MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION CASTLEISLAND
Catalogue of Accessions
May 2016
563 Catalogue of Accessions produced May 2016 Revised October 2017
564 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION CASTLEISLAND Catalogue of Accessions
he Michael O’Donohoe Memorial Heritage Project, Castleisland was launched in October 2014 to catalogue and digitise the research papers of the late school Tprincipal, Michael O’Donohoe (1936-2008) of Main Street, and formerly of Barrack Street, Castleisland.
This followed the establishment of a committee in 2013 chaired by Johnnie Roche with colleagues, Colm Kirwan (secretary), Tomo Burke (treasurer) and John Reidy (public relations).
The material, which dates from c1974 to 2008, consists of a study of local history in the second half of the nineteenth century with particular focus on Castleisland. Most of the research was conducted during the last decade of the twentieth century – the threshold of the revolution in new technology.
Cataloguing commenced in Castleisland, Co Kerry on Monday 18 May 2015 from an office premises in Main Street, enabled by the support of the local and business communities including Crageen Employment Ltd.
During the cataloguing process, now completed, a number of books, photographs and other materials were acquired or purchased and form, as a separate entity, part of the overall collection.
Those items, which number 29, are documented in this catalogue.
Janet Murphy Archivist 16 November 2016
565 Contents Accessions Series Nos IE MOD/A1 – IE MOD/A29
IE MOD/A1 Diary of Robert O'Kelly, The IE MOD/A1 comprises a copy of The Diary of Robert O'Kelly published to celebrate National Heritage Week 22-30 August 2015 Pages 569-570 IE MOD/A2 National Heritage Week 2015 IE MOD/A2 comprises material generated during National Heritage Week 22-30 August 2015 in Castleisland Pages 571-572 IE MOD/A3 Diary of Robert O'Kelly, The IE MOD/A3 contains one photocopy of the original O’Kelly manuscript plus background notes, copies of emails and research notes on O’Kelly genealogy accumulated during cataloguing Pages 472-574 IE MOD/A4 GAA IE MOD/A4 comprises a bound photocopy of Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club Memories in White and a photocopy of a 14pg A5 booklet, Golden Jubilee Banquet to Celebrate Castleisland (1950 County Champions) published in 2000 Pages 475-576 IE MOD/A5 Patrick O’Keeffe IE MOD/A5 contains material pertaining to IE MOD/31 Glountane National School with special reference to traditional musician Patrick O'Keeffe Pages 577-579 IE MOD/A6 The Seigniory of Castleisland IE MOD/A6 comprises an A4 print from a digital image of a map entitled: A MAP of the SEIGNORY of CASTLE ISLAND, MANOR OF MOUNT EAGLE LOYAL, in the County of KERRY IRELAND The Estate of the Honourable Henry Art. Herbert Esqr of Oakley Park IN ENGLAND Survey'd Anno 1729 Pages 580-581 IE MOD/A7 Irish National Land League IE MOD/A7 consists of a copy of Mysteries of Ireland, Giving a Graphic and Faithful Account of Irish Secret Societies, & Their Plots, From the Rebellion of 1798, to the Year 1883 (1884) Pages 582-583 IE MOD/A8 Fr Kieran O’Shea IE MOD/A8 onsists of a CD recording of Fr Kieran O'Shea from the Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection (CD 49), 'The Life Story of a Priest' recorded by Maurice O'Keeffe in January 2006 and one copy of The Diocese of Kerry formerly Ardfert Working in the Fields of God (2005) Pages 584-586 IE MOD/A9 Tragedies of Kerry IE MOD/A9 a photocopy of Tragedies of Kerry 1922 -1923 (1924, 11th ed) by Dorothy Macardle. The cover is illustrated with an image of the Ballyseedy Memorial Pages 587-588 IE MOD/A10 Jeremiah King IE MOD/A10 comprises a digital copy of King’s County Kerry Past & Present (1931) and photocopies of parts I-VI of King's History of Kerry 1907-1911, King's Bibliography of Irish Pictorial Postcards (1903), King's Irish Bibliography (1903) and The Liverpool Irishman or Annals of the Last Colony in Liverpool (1906) Pages 589-590
566 IE MOD/A11 Kerry Elections IE MOD/A11 consists of an A3 photocopy of an eight stanza verse entitled, 'Belimner Hassitts Adress to Kerry for Home Rule' Pages 591-592 IE MOD/A12 Valerie Bary IE MOD/A12 contains a tribute to Valerie Bary published in The Kerry Magazine (2014) Pages 593-594 IE MOD/A13 Billy Mullins IE MOD/A13 contains a bound photocopy of Memoirs of Billy Mullins Veteran of the War of Independence (1983) and a print of the Witness Statement of William Mullins made in 1953 and held at the Bureau of Military History Pages 595-596 IE MOD/A14 Thompson of Rockfield IE MOD/A14 comprises a photocopy of the will of William Thompson of Rockfield near Mill- town and of James Bowen Thompson, descendant of same Pages 597-598 IE MOD/A15 The Rebellion of 1798 IE MOD/A15 contains one photocopy of Discreet and Steady Men: Kerry's role in 1798 (1999) by Padraig O Conchubhair; one supplement, The Kerry Rising, published by The Kerryman , 29 January 2016 and one photocopy of The Story of Kerry Written for the Pupils of Primary Schools (1935) by Pádraig Pléimionn, N T, with notes on author and Fionán Mac Coluim Pages 599-604 IE MOD/A16 Jan Wesley IE MOD/A16 consists of five journals entitled Currow and Currans , 1994 to 1998 inclusive Pages 605-606 IE MOD/A17 Dan Paddy Andy IE MOD/A17 contains a photocopy of Dan Paddy Andy The Lyreacrompane Matchmaker (1998) by Kay Lyons Pages 607-608 IE MOD/A18 Leo Bowes IE MOD/A18 consists of three books (photocopied), Songs and Ballads of Kerry (anon, un- dated); The Sporting Irish (1976) and Haunted Ireland: a Select Book of Famous Irish Ghost Stories (c1976) by Leo Bowes, with biographical notice of Bowes Pages 609-613 IE MOD/A19 John Reidy IE MOD/A19 consists of a small quantity of material relating to British Railways and London Trans- port in the 1940s and 1950s including map and passes; also a copy of The Highway Code c1940s Pages 614-615
IE MOD/A20 John Roche IE MOD/A20 comprises material donated to the collection by committee chairman, John Roche relating to the Roche and Griffin families. Series also contains miscellaneous poetry and prose items
Pages 616-623 IE MOD/A21 Breda Brooks IE MOD/A21 consists of a photograph of Garda O'Donohoe donated by his daughter, Breda Brooks, sister of the late Michael O'Donohoe Pages 624-625
567 IE MOD/A22 Tomo Burke IE MOD/A22 comprises material copied for the collection from the private collection of committee chairman, Tomo Burke. It consists of a black and white digital image of the retirement of Sergeant Troy in the 1950s; two books of poetry by Maurice J Reidy of Castleisland; memoir of Seamus O'Connor of Knocknagoshel; a poem, 'I was born in Sandy Row' and a photograph of Castleisland town in 1974 Pages 626-629 IE MOD/A23 T F O’Sullivan IE MOD/A23 contains a copy of Irish Footprints in the Temple (1918) by T F O'Sullivan. The content was delivered as a lecture in the Carnegie Library, Listowel in 1917 Pages 630-635 IE MOD/A24 Peggy Reidy IE MOD/A24 consists of a donation from Peggy Reidy of Knocknagore, viz, two images from Curranes National School, Castleisland dating to the 1920s and 1940s and an article reproduced by Tralee historian, Russell McMorran, recalling Fr Jerry Reidy, who survived the sinking of a liner in 1917 Pages 636-637 IE MOD/A25 David Geaney IE MOD/A25 consists of a copy of a black and white image of students from the Castleisland Boys' National School taken in 1932 Pages 638-641 IE MOD/A26 Sheila Hannon IE MOD/A26 consists of copies of black and white photographs taken in Main Street in the 1940s with particular focus on Step Together Week in Castleisland, 1-8 November 1942 Pages 642-644 IE MOD/A27 Noel Lane IE MOD/A27 consists of a small number of pages copied from The Schools' Collection (Brosna Schools) donated to the collection by Noel Lane of Brosna Pages 645-647 IE MOD/A28 Timothy Murphy IE MOD/A28 consists of pages from nineteenth and twentieth century directories of Castleisland and notes on the town’s wide Main Street donated by local historian Timothy Murphy Pages 648-649 IE MOD/A29 Richard Prendergast IE MOD/A29 consists of a CD produced in 2017, ‘Songs from the Past’ by Richard Prendergast which includes the track, ‘John Twiss from Castleisland’ Pages 650-652
568 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A1
Diary of Robert O’Kelly, The
569 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A1 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Diary of Robert O’Kelly, The CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 2 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A1 relates to IE MOD/20: The Diary of Robert O'Kelly. It contains a copy of The Diary of Robert O'Kelly published to celebrate National Heritage Week 22-30 August 2015 in Castleisland. 150 copies of the booklet were printed in three separate batches, the first 50 copies perfect bound, the subsequent copies saddle stitched.
Folder also contains a print of rough work during the creative process. See also IE MOD/A3 and IE MOD/A13.
Accessioned 18 September 2015.
570 IE MOD/A2
National Heritage Week 2015
571 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A2 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: National Heritage Week 2015 CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 3 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A2 contains material generated during National Heritage Week 22-30 August 2015 in Castleisland. It includes rough notes, literature published by the Michael O'Donohoe Memorial Heritage Project committee (leaflets, invitation) and literature published by the Heritage Council. It also includes a Visitor's Book signed during the exhibition.
Accessioned 18 September 2015.
572 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A3
Diary of Robert O’Kelly, The
573 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A3 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Diary of Robert O’Kelly, The CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 4 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A3 pertains to IE MOD/20 The Diary of Robert O'Kelly . It consists of a photocopy of the typed manuscript (as held in the collection) and a photocopy of the original manuscript. The items were acquired by Committee Treasurer Tomo Burke from Robert O'Brien, a descendant of O'Kelly, who presented them to Tomo Burke at his electrical shop in Main Street, Castleisland.
The photocopy of the original shows that it was handwritten, 'To and for my dearest child Robert', covering 75 pages (of unknown size), with a diagram on p9. The typed copy shows that one page is missing in O'Donohoe's collection (the page which includes the diagram).
The missing page has been incorporated into the O'Donohoe Collection edition of The Diary of Robert O'Kelly together with the diagram. A new introduction has also been prepared for print.
Series also contains a number of background notes, copies of emails and research notes (includ- ing copy of revised text) on the O’Kelly family accumulated during work on the Diary . See also IE MOD/A1 and IE MOD/A13.
Accessioned 17 September 2015.
574 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A4
GAA
575 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A4 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: GAA CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 2 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A4 relates to IE MOD/29 GAA 1884 Sat Nov 1.
It contains a bound photocopy of Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club Memories in White and Blue edited by Eamon O'Sullivan and published in May 1983. A report of its official launch appeared in The Kerryman 13 May 1983.
A copy of this book was loaned to the Project by committee PR Officer, John Reidy, on 23 September 2015 from which a photocopy was made for the collection. A digital copy has also been created.
Series also contains a photocopy of a 14pg A5 booklet, Golden Jubilee Banquet to Celebrate Castleisland (1950 County Champions) published in 2000.
Accessioned 23 September 2015 & 12 October 2015 respectively.
576 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A5
Patrick O’Keeffe
577 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A5 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Patrick O’Keeffe CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 10 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A5 contains material pertaining to IE MOD/31 Glountane National School with particular reference to traditional musician Patrick O'Keeffe. The material has been sourced as reference to the Series content note.
IE MOD/A5/1 Print of one-page article from Treoir (1970), 'Padraig O'Keeffe, Last of the Old Fiddle Masters A memoir by Seamus Ennis'. Available online.
IE MOD/A5/2 Photocopy of Music from Sliabh Luachra: an introduction to the traditional music of the Cork/Kerry borderland: with notes on Topic records 12T(S)309-311 (1977) by Alan Ward, published as a separate booklet with Traditional Music Magazine , No 5 (1977). 31 pages. Photocopy purchased from National Library of Ireland at a cost of €12.50.
IE MOD/A5/3 Print of The Road to Glountane (1980) by Terence "Cuz" Teahan, publication downloaded from scribd.com. Page 8 missing; acquired from a copy belonging to John Reidy and added as a separate scan.
IE MOD/A5/4 Print of 12-pg A5 booklet, Comóraoh Pádraigh O Keeffe (1983) published by Scartaglen Feile Cheoil. This item copied from original held by John Reidy.
IE MOD/A5/5 Print of The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master Padraig O'Keeffe (1887-1963) by Peter Browne published in Ceol na hÉireann; Irish Music , no 2 (1994), pp61-78). Pages 61-78 downloaded from web; cover of Ceol na hÉireann ordered from National Library of Ireland minimal cost of one photocopy.
IE MOD/A5/6 Original copy of Pádraig O'Keeffe – The Man and his Music (1995) by Dermot Hanifin. This 44-pg A5 booklet was acquired for the collection by John Reidy who informed me that the author, former school teacher and Kerry football player, Dermot Hanifin, passed away 6 April 2012 at age 84 (obituary The Irish Times , 7 April 2012).
IE MOD/A5/7 Print of 'Pádraig O'Keeffe: The Last Fiddle Master' by Pat Feeley published in The Old Limerick Journal , Winter Edition (2002) pp53-59. Article downloaded from web. Article subsequently published in Journal of the Kerry Archaeological & Historical Society (see below).
578 IE MOD/A5/8 Photocopy of 'Pádraig O'Keeffe: The Last Fiddle Master' by Pat Feeley, Journal of Kerry Archaeological & Historical Society (2004) Series 2, Volume 2, pp22-42. Article earlier published in The Old Limerick Journal (see above). Photocopy acquired from library.
IE MOD/A5/9 Print of pp292 & 345-355 of Towards a regional understanding of Irish traditional music (2009) by David Kearney, UCC (PhD Thesis). Thesis accessible online; only relevant pages printed.
IE MOD/A5/10 Forty-three standard 4x6 coloured photographs of Glountane Cross and surrounds including school ruin and house ruin. Also images of O'Keeffe's grave at Kilmurry cemetery. Images taken by me [Janet Murphy] on 1st September and 5 October 2015. Printed at Photobox at a cost of €13.79, order ref: 2176BMN dated 8 October 2015
Accessioned 14 October 2015.
579 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A6
The Seigniory of Castleisland
580 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A6 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: The Seigniory of Castleisland CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A6 relates to IE MOD/39: The Seigniory of Castleisland. It consists of an A4 print from a digital image of a map entitled:
A MAP of the SEIGNORY of CASTLE ISLAND, MANOR OF MOUNT EAGLE LOYAL, in the County of KERRY IRELAND The Estate of the Honourable Henry Art. Herbert Esqr of Oakley Park IN ENGLAND Survey'd Anno 1729 by Gart (?) Hogan
The digital image is also contained in this series.
The map is imprinted with a reference denoting townland and acres of arable wood and pasture and acres of mountain and bog and a note explaining that the painted lines distinguish each townland and the broken lines the different qualities of lands. A number of townlands are symbolised with a house, a castle, a church and/or glebe or a combination of those symbols. Symbolised townlands include East Menas, Killcow, Ballymacadam, Tullig, Breaghig, Killmurry, Killeentierna, Kahernenard, Killcushneen, Craig and Killbanevan. An illustration of arms is below the title.
This map is noted in IE MOD/39/39.1/39.1.1 and referred to in IE MOD/49/49.1. It has been acquired for the collection for reference purposes from the National Library of Ireland (16 H 8 [18]), who retain copyright, at a cost of €20. Order No: 18804 on 12 October 2015.
Accessioned 22 October 2015.
581 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A7
Irish National Land League
582 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A7 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Irish National Land League CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A7 consists of a copy of Mysteries of Ireland, Giving a Graphic and Faithful Account of Irish Secret Societies, & Their Plots, From the Rebellion of 1798, to the Year 1883 (1884). The book is hardback, cover coloured red, 304 pages.
It has been acquired for the collection for its relevance to the study of the Irish National Land League.
It has been purchased from www.cathyscollectables.co.uk at a cost of €50 (£30). Payment to Catherine Sian Jones 2 November 2015. Invoice ID: 137944.
A note on this book contained in IE MOD/41.
Accessioned 5 November 2015.
583 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A8
Fr Kieran O’Shea
584 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A8 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Fr Kieran O’Shea CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 3 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A8 relates to IE MOD/6: Castleisland Church and People.
It consists of a CD recording of Fr Kieran O'Shea from the Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection (CD 49), 'The Life Story of a Priest' recorded by Maurice O'Keeffe in January 2006.
It has been acquired for the collection for biographical study. Rev O'Shea was a curate in Castleisland parish and published widely. His writings on the history of Castleisland are of immense value.
The recording runs for 45 minutes. Maurice O'Keeffe interviewed Fr O'Shea in the Catherine McAuley Home at Balloonagh, Tralee in January 2006 where Fr O'Shea was convalescing. Some months later, in June, Fr O'Shea was elected President of the Castleisland and District Culture and Heritage Society and in July, retired from priestly duties. He died the following month.
The recording covers Fr O'Shea's early years from his birth in Listowel in 1937, schooling there in St Michael's College (his teacher Bryan MacMahon) and later education in St Brendan's, Killarney and ultimately Maynooth, his classmate John Hume.
He discusses at length his friendship with John B Keane, and the playwright's contribution to the catholic church. He also recollects Keane's involvement with the spoof political campaign of the Independent Coulogeous Party and its mysterious candidate, Thomas ('Tom') Xavier Doodle in 1951, the fiction reminiscent of a scene from Dickens's Bleak House :
England has been in a dreadful state for some weeks. Lord Coodle would go out, Sir Thomas Doodle wouldn't come in, and there being nobody in Great Britain (to speak of) except Coodle and Doodle, there has been no government ... At last Sir Thomas Doodle has not only condescended to come in, but has done it handsomely, bringing in with him all his nephews, all his male cousins, and all his brothers-in-law ... (Chapter XL, 'National and Domestic').
The sudden appearance of Tom Doodle's campaign posters in Listowel in the General Election year generated huge interest. The mystery culminated in 'the night Tom Doodle came to town ... attired in bowler hat, swallow-tail suit and beard'.
The Coulogeous Party attracted 3,000 people to its first (and only) rally in Listowel. Thirteen years later its foundation was recalled:
Nobody ever thought the Tom Doodle Club would survive ...now the executive and members are about to celebrate its tenth anniversary ... in the year 1951 amidst the party bitterness and strife of election time in a pub of all places, a group of young men who were seated there conceived the idea which took shape on the spot. Before they left that night, an Executive of five was
585 formed and later came the election of President Tom Doodle who was forever to remain anonymous' ( The Kerryman , 18 January 1964).
Tom Doodle (sometimes Doddle) pledged to erect a factory for shaving the hairs off goose- berries, to ensure a vote for leprechauns and to give every man more than the next. Fr O'Shea recalls how Tom Doodle 'only appeared if his country needed him' and recites a number of 'Doodle' poems and the party's slogan, 'Doodle on the ball, next stop the Dail' and an account of Doodle's birth 'in a little white washed cottage in the Kerry hills'.
Fr O'Shea discusses the decline of 'characters' in the north Kerry area, 'for what reason I just don't know' and the Denny Street ghost.
His history in the priesthood is covered, from his two year curacy in Grantham, Lincs, home town of Margaret Thatcher who had left by the time he arrived there 'because the place wasn't big enough for the both of us' and work for the Irish Immigrants Chaplaincy Scheme in Luton with Bishop Eamon Casey, to his return to Ireland and appointment to Eyeries and later Causeway where he taught history for seven years (remarks on the tradition of teaching in his family and that he would have been a teacher if not a priest).
The GAA forms a large subject in which Fr O'Shea scoffs at the 'stupid rule' of not allowing priests to play football ('some played under assumed names'). He discourses on civil war and the GAA, and his book, Face the Ball, 'a book about club championships'.
Fr O'Shea also comments on his other publications including what appears to be his final work, The Diocese of Kerry formerly Ardfert Working in the Fields of God (2005), which he described as 'Hard going ... I didn't know what I was letting myself in for ... it nearly killed me ... I was often up to three in the morning trying to straighten things out.'
The book, its sub-title written by Brendan Kennelly, includes notes on stained glass, and on this subject Fr O'Shea discloses a desire to bring out a book on stained glass windows in Kerry for which he would write the history if sponsorship could be secured for an illustrator. He recounts favourite authors, including Helen Steiner Rice (whose poem Friendship he recites) and Elie Wiesel, whose work Night (1960) he found both moving and memorable. Fr O'Shea advocates fair treatment and care to all and suggests that small gestures can make a big difference and gives as example the appreciation of his own act of sending a postcard to his First Friday callers (those who cannot go out) over a period of twenty years. He speaks with great affection of Knocknagoshel, of which parish he was priest, and advocates dignity and respect to all as 'the key to the whole thing'. The recording has been acquired at a cost of €10. Payment to O'Keeffe Antiques 3 November 2015. Transaction ID: 18M84267BO7701723. Series also holds one copy of The Diocese of Kerry formerly Ardfert Working in the Fields of God (2005), purchased from St Mary's Cathedral, Killarney, on 16 November 2015 for the sum of €20 (receipt no 435) and a photocopy of Knocknagoshel Parish (1991) by Kieran O'Shea. It is a signed copy dated 24 May 1991 addressed to John (Reidy), Committee PRO, who loaned the book to the collection for copying.
Accessioned 4 November 2015.
586 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A9
Tragedies of Kerry
587 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A9 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Tragedies of Kerry CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A9 relates to IE MOD/3: Ballyseedy.
It consists of a photocopy of Tragedies of Kerry 1922 -1923 (1924, 11th ed) by Dorothy Macardle. The cover is illustrated with an image of the Ballyseedy Memorial.
The book is scarce. It has been copied from my own [Janet Murphy] collection of books.
A copy of Tragedies of Kerry auctioned recently in O'Connell's Kerry Auction Rooms appears to be a very early, perhaps first, edition (copy of cover image in this series).
Accessioned 4 November 2015.
588 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A10
Jeremiah King
589 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A10 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Jeremiah King CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 9 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A10 relates to IE MOD/42: Jeremiah King
It consists of a CD containing a digital copy of County Kerry Past & Present (1931) by Jeremiah King.
The book is scarce. It has been purchased from Archive CD Books Ireland Ltd, 5 Whitefriars, Aungier Street, Dublin 2, Order No: JME06120005009 dated 10 November 2015 for the sum of €21.98.
King's History of Kerry was published in the following parts:
Part I 1907 Part II 1909 Part III 1910 Part IV 1911 Part V 1911 Part VI 1911
A digital and printed copy of parts I to VI together with digital and printed copies of King's Bibliography of Irish Pictorial Postcards (1903), King's Irish Bibliography (1903) and The Liverpool Irishman or Annals of the Last Colony in Liverpool (1906) have been scanned and added to the collection (from copies in my possession – JM).
They have been added to the collection for reference purposes.
Accessioned 10 November - 23 December 2015.
590 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A11
Kerry Elections
591 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A11 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Kerry Elections CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A11 relates to IE MOD/43: Kerry Elections 1835 & 1872.
It consists of an A3 photocopy of an eight stanza verse entitled, 'Belimner Hassitts Adress to Kerry for Home Rule' (sic). It begins: And we'll have good times once more says the shan van vauth/We'll have Irish laws atome says the shan van vauth/Blenner Hassitts now indeed will bring home rule to College green/For the year of seventy three says the shan van vauth.
It has been acquired from the National Library of Ireland, ref LB 39988 v1(5b), at a cost of €3.50.
It has been added to the collection for reference purposes.
Accessioned 16 November 2015.
592 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A12
Valerie Bary
593 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A12 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Valerie Bary CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A12 relates to IE MOD/38: Houses of Kerry.
It consists of a photocopy from The Kerry Magazine issue 24 (2014) published by the Kerry Archaeological & Historical Society which contains a tribute to Valerie Bary, author of Houses of Kerry .
The copy was acquired for reference purposes in the series note.
Accessioned 17 November 2015.
594 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A13
Billy Mullins
595 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A13 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Billy Mullins CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 2 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A13 relates to IE MOD/20: The Diary of Robert O'Kelly. See also IE MOD/A1 and IE MOD/A3.
It consists of a bound photocopy of Memoirs of Billy Mullins Veteran of the War of Independence (1983) and a print of the Witness Statement of William Mullins made in 1953 and held at the Bureau of Military History (WS 801).
Committee Treasurer, Tomo Burke, loaned the book for copying as Mullins, who died in 1991, had family links with O'Kelly. The book is rare.
Notes on the author's ancestry held in collection note in this series.
Accessioned 8 December 2015.
596 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A14
Thompson of Rockfield
597 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A14 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Thompson of Rockfield CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 2 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A14 relates to IE MOD/58: Proprietors.
It consists of a photocopy of the will of William Thompson of Rockfield near Milltown and James Bowen Thompson, descendant of same, acquired in the course of research of note IE MOD/58/58.28.
It has been included for reference/research purposes.
A hard and digital copy of each is in this series.
Accessioned 11 March 2016.
598 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A15
Rebellion of 1798
599 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A15 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Rebellion of 1798 CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 3 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A15 relates to IE MOD/60: Rebellion of 1798.
It consists of material relating to this subject acquired during the course of writing the series note. It has been included for further research purposes.
IE MOD/A15/1 One photocopy of Discreet and Steady Men: Kerry's role in 1798 (1999) by Padraig O Concubhair acquired from the National Library of Ireland (Order No: 19729 dated 22 March 2016 at a cost of €18.50).
IE MOD/A15/2 One 32-page newspaper supplement, The Kerry Rising , published by The Kerryman , 29 January 2016 as part of 1916 commemorations. Donated to the collection by John Reidy in January 2016.
IE MOD/A15/3 One photocopy of The Story of Kerry Written for the Pupils of Primary Schools (1935) by Pádraig Pléimionn, N T, photocopied for the collection from cataloguer's (Janet Murphy) own copy at a cost of €9. The 89-pg book was first serialised in The Kerryman in 1934 and published in book form in May 1935.
The introduction to the book reveals that Pléimionn was a member of the County Kerry Teachers' Association and had produced the work in order to assist teachers with 'the new subject of Local History which the Department of Education in Saorstat Eireann had made compulsory in all Primary Schools'.
Pléimionn opined that existing material was inadequate. The genealogies contained in Smith's and Cusack's Histories , he wrote, were 'of little or no historical interest and in the opinion of many, should be confined to their proper place – oblivion'. His sense of nationalistic pride is evident: 'Always remember that Nationality is, next to Religion, the noblest sentiment that can animate the mind of men'.
The book contains 26 chapters and includes a set of questions for students at the close of each. 1 The questions posed, which are charged with a sense of urgency, are wide ranging and of interest in social, historical and cultural terms. They are a foretaste of the Schools' Folklore Scheme of 1937 to 1938, the collaboration of INTO (Irish National Teachers Organisation) of which Pléimionn was a member, the Irish Folklore Commission and the Department of Education.
Pléimionn urged students to both consult and instruct their elders on matters of history and tradition: Tell your parents and teacher that you would like to learn Irish dancing. There should
600 be a flute and a violin in every Kerry home and Ask your parents who was the middleman in your district – were they all foreigners? He comments on race: Examine the physical features of persons in your locality and note that large, fair-haired people with bluish, or blue-grey eyes are of the Celtic race while those with straight black hair, of small stature, and having black or brown eyes are Ivernians .
The place of sport is recognised and he and asks if there is a playing field in the school and if not, to 'write to the manager of your school to provide one'. He discusses traditions and cures and urges students to 'learn as many old cures as you can'.
During the course of his questioning, he indirectly records customs of the past. He asks if students ever took a sprig of 'No-blame' or Birds-foot trefoil whenever they loitered on an errand or ever took a Turkish bath – What disease is cured by its use ?
Many of the questions such as Why do not the farmers level lioses? or Are farmers slaves at the present time? do not include responses which would have been interesting with those like Who was Froude – was he a good historian? Questions to which he did provide an answer, such as the origin of the name O'Sullivan (he cautions that the legend he gives 'must not be looked upon as historical fact') and the identity of 'the great old poets of Sliabh Luachra' are useful. He asks, for example, Why is there no trace of the castle of the MacCarthy Mor at Pallas? and advises that 'it was destroyed by a contractor to build the walls of a demesne near Beaufort'. Many of the old castles, he states, are being knocked down to get road-stuff: Is this right?
Pléimionn's other writings include a typescript dated 1936, An Account of the genealogies of the present inhabitant householders of the parish of old Kilcummin and of portions of adjoining parishes; 'This account was taken almost verbatim from an inhabitant (John Lyne) of the old Kilcumin parish'. It is held in Tralee County Library.
A 40-pg song book, Cosa Buidhe Arda was issued in 1922 by Finghin na Leamhna (Fionan Mac Coluim) and Padraig Pleimionn containing music 'to transport to a Corkaguiny fireside ... the adoption of the book as a school-text in the junior classes will go a long way to Gaelicise the atmosphere of the school and to make happy Irish children'.
The book may have been the collaboration of Mac Coluim and the Kilcummin author. A book of the same title (along with Laethanta Geala , 'an interesting little diary the work of a school going colleen in Iveragh Co Kerry') was issued earlier (1917) from Shandon Printing Works in Cork under the direction of the editor of An Lochlann , An Seabhac (Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha 1883-1964) and Fionan Mac Coluim as part of the Leabhair Bheaga Bhlasda na Gaedhilge series (see note on Mac Coluim below).
The duration of Ó Siochfhradha's editorship is not known but on his death in 1964, it was recorded that 'for years An Seabhac produced in Killarney An Lochrann , one of the finest Gaelic journals ever published.' 2
Pléimionn, otherwise Patrick J Fleming, was born circa 1868 in Coolick, Kilcummin, Killarney to John Fleming and his wife Margaret Meara. He worked as a national school teacher at Clashnagarrane National School in Kilcummin and was noted for his contribution to the Irish language revival movement. 3 He was a member of the Killarney branch of the Gaelic League and one of the founders and first teacher of Craob na n-Airne . He also held the role of secretary
601 of Feis na Mumban . He took part in the appeal for funds to erect a memorial to Kerry poet, Tomas Ruadh O'Sullivan (a memorial cross was unveiled at Derrynane Abbey on 15 Aug 1928) and numbered among the vice chair of the Four Poets Memorial Committee, Killarney.
His wife Ellen, who also worked as a national school teacher, died young in 1905:
Died at a youthful age and after a brief illness, Mrs P J Fleming, the wife of Mr Patrick J Fleming, National teacher and secretary to the Munster Feis in 1904 and 1905 and the daughter of Mr John Breen, High Street, Killarney. The sad event took place on Saturday week at her residence, 3 Emmet Terrace, Killarney. The deceased lady was successively principal teacher of Fossa and Lissivigeen Female National Schools ... her remains to her last resting place under the shadow of the old cathedral of Aghadoe ( The Kerryman , 9 September 1905).
In 1911 Pléimionn was living with his brother Maurice (and Maurice's family) at Coolick. Pléimionn married again to Julia, postmistress of Kilcummin Post Office. An image of the couple was published in Footsteps Fiddles Flagstones & Fun (2004) edited by John Herlihy ('Kilcummin Gaelic Revival to Platform Performers', pp90-91). The couple had a son, Padraig, who succeeded as Postmaster in Kilcummin on Julia's death in 1938 until his resignation in 1946. He seems to have moved to The Cafe, College Street, Killarney in which town he was treasurer of Killarney CCE.
Pádraig Pléimionn died at Countess Road, Killarney on 25 July 1957. An obituary published in The Kerryman on 3 August 1957 revealed that he was a close friend of Douglas Hyde:
Mr Patrick J Fleming, Countess Road, Killarney, retired national school teacher who has died at the age of 92 years, was an outstanding worker all his life for the revival of the national language. He taught in Drogheda and at Clashnagarrane National School in his native parish of Kilcummin until he retired in 1932. He was an active member of the I.N.T.O. and became associated with the Pensioned Teachers' Association. During his work for the language he became acquainted with Douglas Hyde, first President of Ireland, and this association developed into a close friendship which lasted all their lives. The late Mr Fleming wrote a history of Kerry for schoolchildren and in co-operation with the late John Lyne, Kilcummin, wrote a genealogical history of the parish of Kilcummin . Pádraig Pléimionn was buried in Kilcummin.
It is worth noting that another Kerry born national school teacher of the same name lived at the same period as Pleimionn. Born in Tureencahill near Rathmore c1868, Patrick J Fleming taught in the local primary school at Beal na Blath, Co Cork. He met De Valera in a local pub a few days before Michael Collins was shot (see www.photoalbumofireland.com).
Note on Fionán Mac Coluim
Fionán Mac Coluim was born on 28 August 1875:
His father, Daniel McCallum from Co Antrim, his mother Margaret (May) McCarthy whose death caused Fionan to be raised by an uncle in Kerry. Educated in secondary schooling in North Monastery, Cork and later obtained employment in the British Central Registration Office and later, appointed a junior clerk in the India Office in London. He worked as Inspector for Education Department. Member of the GAA, the Irish Literary Society and Amnesty Association of Great Britain. Involved in the establishment of hurling clubs, and the Exiles of Erin Club. Played a major part in organising the athletics competition in Stamford Hill in 1896. Helped with language classes from which the Gaelic League in London was founded. Fionán appointed secretary and attended the first Oireachtas. Began collecting folklore and songs. Founded, with Seamus Delargy, Douglas Hyde and others, the Folklore of Ireland Society in 1926 and was a member until his death. Published under the pseudonym of Finghin na Leamhna (www.ainm.ie).
602 Mac Coluim died on 16 December 1966. Obituary published in Limerick Leader 24 December 1966:
The death of Fionán Mac Coluim in his nineties at the end of last week severed what must have been one of the very last living links with the earliest days of the Gaelic league and the Irish language revival movement. Giving up his post in the British Civil Service, Fionán devoted the rest of his days to promoting the cause of the Irish language. The enthusiasm of his youth in that respect he took with him into his twilight years. As an organiser for the Gaelic League he came to know practically every parish in Ireland. I have a cutting from the Limerick Leader of June 20th 1904 which describes a Sellg or Aeriocht that was held on top of Knockfierna the previous day. This function was organised by the Rathkeale Colaiste Ceantair of the Gaelic League and contingents were present from Rathkeale, Ballingarry, Newcastle West, Askeaton, Adare, Croom, Pallaskenry, Ardagh, Feenagh, Banogue, Foynes and Ballysteen. Fr Jerry Murphy CC Rathkeale delivered an inspiring ad- dress to the gathering. In the course of his address Fr Murphy said: “Thanks to Mr Fionán Mac Coluim our excellent organiser we have a network of Gaelic League branches all over this country and let us hope that they may each and all thrive and flourish so that in a few years hence we may have another Sellg here at which no English need be spoken.” That was 62 years ago. Fionán Mac Coluim was a living link with those far-off golden days when the best men Ireland ever produced believed in the necessity to de-anglicise Ireland.
Mac Coluim married in 1936 to Maureen McGrath and had one son, poet, sculptor and artist, Finnan, who died at Westminster Hospital on 4 February 1980 ( Irish Independent , 7 February 1980 & Kerryman , 15 February 1980. Spellings vary: Finninan in same issue of Kerryman and Fiannon in Irish press 21 February 1980). Finnan exhibited his work at the Irish Club in London in October 1972, 'Finnan MacCollum (sic) paints abstracts of a science fictional nature and he has also designed spacecraft which he has submitted to NASA' ( Irish Press , 8 October 1972).
Fionan’s sister Una Mac Coluim was the principal of Killorglin Girls' National School in Co Kerry, and assisted her brother in his literary work: 'It was only natural that the then Government in Ireland should view with suspicion such activities on the part of an Irish speaking member of Cumann na mBan. She paid the penalty when during her absence at the funeral of Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork, in 1920, the Black and Tans burned to the ground her house with its entire contents. Much folklore, collected by Fionan, and many valuable manuscripts were destroyed in that fire. To quote An t-Oileanach, Ni bheidh a leitheid ann aris' ( Kerryman , 6 March 1971). Una died in 1971 (obituary and funeral details in Kerryman , 6 March 1971).
Mac Coluim published Bolg An t-Solátair in 1904:
How few of us Gaelic Leaguers buy up Irish books at all. They say that they are too dear. You can’t say that of Bolg An t-Solátair at least. It costs two-pence only and you get thirteen songs as funny and as Gaodalac as you wish and two short droll stories for your money ( The Kerryman , 8 October 1904). 4
A portrait of Mac Coluim accompanies a tribute (in Irish), 'In Memoriam Fionán Mac Coluim (1875-1966)' by Sean O’Suilleabhain, Bealoideas , lml xxxiii 1967, pp180-2. A biographical notice of Sean O’Suilleabhain with image can be found in An Rábach of Cummeengeera: the fact and the theatre (2012).
Image of a more youthful Mac Coluim published in Irish Independent , 26 June 1915, captioned 'Mr Fionan MacCollum, Gaelic League Envoy to the United States, who has returned after a successful tour'. An image also appears in The Story of Conradh Na Gaeilge A History of the Gaelic League (1975) by Pádraig Ó Fearáil (p31).
Accessioned 22 March 2016.
603 ______1 The chapter titles are as follows:
Ch 1 (9-11) Early Colonists of Kerry. The Ivernians. Old Forts and Lioses. Some early celebrated Kings and Warriors of Kerry. Ch 2 (12-14) The Coming of the Celts. The Eoghanacht of Loch Lein. Old Kerry and its divisions. The present baronies. Ch 3 (15-17) Kerry in early Christian times. Saints Brendan, Finian Cam,Mochuda, Carthage the Younger, Cumian Fada and others. Ch 4 (18-20) Early Christian Churches in Kerry. Their principal Architectural Characteristics. Round Towers and Holy Wells. Ch 5 (21-23) The coming of the Danes. Their Battles with the Eoghanachta of Loch Lein and the Ciarraidhe. Kerry under Dalcassian Rule. Kerry Chiefs at the Battle of Clontarf. Ch 6 (24-26) Kerry men 1014 AD to the coming of the Anglo Normans. The Eoghanacht Ui Dhonnchadha of Loch Lein. Visits of SS Celsus and Malachy and of Turlough, Ard Righ Eireann. Ch 7 (27-29) The third Eoghanacht Invasion of Kerry. The Coming of the Geraldines. The Castellation of the County. Ch 8 (30-32) Wars between the MacCarthies and the O Sullivans. Battle of Callan. The Great Gaelic State of Desmond, and how ruled. Ch 9 (33-35) Other Characteristics of the Gaelic State of Desmond. Divisions of land. Old Cures. Old Customs among the people. Ch 10 (36-38) The Great Septs of the MacCarthy Mor. The O Sullivan Septs. The O Connells. Flemish Mercenaries. The Old Town of Dingle. Ch 11 (39-41) The Earls of Desmond. John of Callan. Tomas an Apa. Kerry made a Palatinate. Visits of the Earl of Kildare. Origin of the title, 'Kingdom of Kerry'. Ch 12 (42-44) The Formation of the Geraldine League. Foreign help sought. Murder of Judge Danvers at Tralee. The Massacre at Dun an Oir. Ch 13 (45-47) The end of The Geraldine League. Death of the last Earl of Desmond. The advent of the Elizabethan Undertakers.. Ch 14 (48-50) The Undertakers. Death of the Earl of Clancarthy. The Lady Ellen. Florence MacCarthy Mor. The Sugan Earl. Ch 15 (51-53) Kerry in 1598. The Principal Castles. Flight of the Undertakers. Fate of the Sugan Earl. The Robin Hood of Munster. Ch 16 (54-56) Retreat of the O Sullivan Beare. State of Kerry and its people. Return of the Undertakers. The beginning of the Penal Days. Ch 17 (57-59) Proposed Walling of Tralee in 1612. List of Jurors. The Crosbies come to Tarbert. Kerry in 1641. List of Kerry leaders who rose against the English. Ch 18 (60-62) Taking of Tralee Castles by the Confederate Irish. The three Political Parties. Rinuccini in Kerry. Ross Castle taken by the Cromwellians. Ch 19 (63-66) Settlement of the Cromwellian Undertakers in Kerry. The Transplantation. Petty and his Methods. Executions at Martyrs' Hill, Killarney. Ch 20 (67-71) The Rapparees. The O Connell, O Mahony and O Connor families. Maire ni Dhuibh and her son, 'Hunting Cap'. The MacElligott, O Moriarty and Stack Families. Ch 21 (72-74) Kerry during the Jacobite Wars. Treaty of Limerick. The Irish Brigade. The Falvey Family. The Discoverers. Ch 22 (75-77) Confiscations under William of Orange. The Landlord system perfected. Attempts to plant Protestant settlers. The Brownes and Aodhagan O Rahilly. Burning of Tralee. Penal Laws. Ch 23 (78-80) Kerry in the Eighteenth Century. The Silver Robbery at Ballyheigue. The "Bucks". The Poet, Eoghan Ruadh O Sullivan. The Poor Scholars. Kerry and the Rising of 1798. Ch 24 (81-83) Kerry in 1800. Land-grabbing prevalent among tenant farmers. The Rising of 1867. The Liberator. Famine times. Dr Moriarty's Sermon. Ch 25 (84-86) The '47 Famine in Kerry. Extract from 'Evening Memories' by Mr William O'Brien. Land Purchase. Evicted Tenants reinstated. Ch 26 (87-89) List of the most numerous Surnames in Kerry. King's History of Kerry. The Killarney Cathedral. Educational Establishments. Roger Casement. Tomas Ashe. Conclusion.
2 Irish Independent, 2 December 1964. A record of the history of An Lochrann was given in an appeal for copies by Cork County Library in 1953: 'An Lochrann was published during the years 1907-1931 and was issued in four series. The first series (Vol 1 No 1 Marta 1907 to Vol V No II Marta agus Abran 1913) was published by the Kerry People , Tralee. The second and third series (No I Abran 1916 to No 57 Nodlaig 1920 and No 1 Mi na Samhna 1925 to No 20 IuI agus Lughnasa 1927) were published in Cork by the Shandon Printing Company; the fourth series (No 1 Feabhra 1930 to No 23 Nodlaig 1931) were printed in Dublin. It is understood that the stocks of the second series held by the Shandon Printing Company were destroyed in the burning of Cork City but it is likely that many scattered copies exist ... P J Madden, County Librarian, 18 Dyke Parade, Cork, 15 September 1953' (Irish Examiner , 17 September 1953).
3 A report of the retirement of Tish Healy from her shop in Kilcummin in 1987 stated that 'A stone over the shop's door is inscribed 'Clashnagarrane School 1841'. So a lot of history has been made on its doorstep' ( The Kerryman , 4 September 1987).
4 This work has been translated into English by Sean Looney and was published in 2018 under title, Beans My Dear Woman: Gaelic Songs and Ballads. It is available at www.lulu.com online bookshop.
604 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
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Jan Wesley
605 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A16 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Jan Wesley CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 5 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A16 consists of five journals entitled Currow and Currans , 1994 to 1998 inclusive. The five journals were donated to the collection by Jan Wesley of Castleisland on 18 March 2016.
The journals contain many articles of historical interest, such as recollections of the Black and Tans at Kilsarcon school by John P Brosnan 'The Tailor' (1994, pp38-39) and Catherine Doherty of Dicksgrove's reminiscences of 1915 to 1995, which include her schooling by Patrick O'Keeffe (1995, pp70-72). The Life of the Postman by John Fleming (1998, pp143-148) recalls the days when the job was done by 'Shank's Mare' and The Legend of Kilsarcon Graveyard by John Reidy of Dromulton (1996, pp61-62) complements the county's rich store of fireside tales. The valuable work of John Houlihan, 'Kerry's representative on National Graves Association' is recorded in the 1997 edition (pp121-122).
Jan Wesley, a retired shopkeeper from England, knits dolls and other craft items such as tea cosies for local charities. He work was commended by Marjorie Quarton, Editor of the newsletter for the National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) in 2015 ( Kerryman , 11 November 2015, 'Jan is a treasure in Castleisland charity shop'). Jan was also photographed by John Reidy for the Maine Valley Pos t (see 'Christmas Craft Fair – An Outstanding Success', 1 December 2015).
Accessioned 25 March 2016.
606 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
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Dan Paddy Andy
607 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A17 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Dan Paddy Andy CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT ‘If the man is in earnest, I’ll get a woman for him’ – Dan Paddy Andy IE MOD/A17 consists of a photocopy of Dan Paddy Andy The Lyreacrompane Matchmaker by Kay Lyons, published in association with the unveiling of a memorial to the matchmaker in September 1998. 1
Dan Paddy Andy (Daniel Patrick Andrew O’Sullivan) was born at Reanagowan, a townland near Lyracrumpane in the parish of Ballymacelligott, on 27 December 1899, son of Patrick O’Sullivan, farmer and his wife Bridget (nee Geaney). Dan ran a small dancehall and gained notoriety as a rural match- maker, appearing on television including BBC and ITV (his last televised appearance appears to have been the Telefis Eireann show Location , produced by Michael Monaghan, filmed live at the ballroom of the Listowel Arms Hotel on 14 January 1964).
Listowel playwright, John B Keane appeared on the same show. In 1977, Keane published Dan Pheaidí Aindí , a biography of the matchmaker in 1930s and 40s rural Ireland. 2 Keane’s book, Man of the Triple Name, based on Dan Paddy Andy, was launched in 1984. At the launch, John B said, ‘If I have a serious tale to tell I guise it in humour. People will not take lectures’. 3 Fr Kieran O’Shea, then parish priest of Castleisland, recounted a humorous tale of the matchmaker at the event. He told how Dan drew a pension for the blind and happened to be in the cinema in Tralee watching a film when the pensions officer came in and sat down beside him. Dan turned to him and asked, ‘Is this the bus for Castleisland?’
Dan Paddy Andy married and had three sons and one daughter. He once stood as candidate for Kerry County Council. Dan Paddy Andy died at Reanagowan on 25 March 1966. His funeral was held in Clogher parish church and he was laid to rest in Kilbannivane cemetery, Castleisland. The following lines were written by John B Keane on 18th May 1982 to commemorate Dan’s life. 4
Lines written at the Ivy Bridge, Renagown, Lyreacrompane to commemorate Dan Paddy Andy O’Sullivan, last of the great Irish matchmakers. The beaded dews did the fields attire, And the old, grey world was turned to fire, As I went out through the land of Lyre, In the month of May in the morning. Out of the bowers by bright rays lit Lark and linnet and long-tailed tit And every other that ever did flit Sang loud of the sun’s adorning. Sang from the foliage green and gay Sang for the sake of the newborn day Sang for the bursting buds of May And sang for the rough and the randy. Sang for a soul too long reproved Sang for a soul that had never loved As over the Ivy Bridge he roved To the land of Dan Paddy Andy.
Accessioned 25 March 2016.
______1 Kerryman , 25 September 1998. A crossroads dance was held at Dan Paddy Andy’s Cross at Reanagowan on 2 July 1995. The Dan Paddy Andy Festival is now an annual summer event held in Lyreacrompane. 2 It was staged by the Peacock Theatre Dublin in December 1980, directed by Sean McCarthy, Cork and staged in English the following year in the Talbot Hotel Dinner Theatre, Wexford and Dublin theatres. 3 Kerryman, 8 June 1984. 4 The first of the Progress House Poets in Print series, illustrated by Thomas David Caron and published in 1982.
608 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
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Leo Bowes
609 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A18 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Leo Bowes CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 3 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A18 consists of a photocopy of three books, Songs and Ballads of Kerry (anon, undated); The Sporting Irish (1976) and Haunted Ireland: a Select Book of Famous Irish Ghost Stories both by Leo Bowes (from cataloguer’s private collection).
Songs and Ballads of Kerry contains 52 songs including The Battle of Callan, The Boatmen of Kerry, Skibbereen and The Songs of Puck Fair. It was published in Tallaght, Co Dublin by MAC Publications, author not given. Little is known of this publishing house which seems to have been operated by Patrick McCaughey in the late 1970s. 1
The following number among the titles issued by MAC Publications at this period:
Songs and Ballads of Kerry (56pp); A Feast of Irish Songs and Ballads (72pp); Irish Farmhouse Recipes (116pp); Irish Country Kitchen (119pp); Haunted Ireland: a Select Book of Famous Irish Ghost Stories by Leo Bowes (c1976) 75pp; Sing with me Now: a book of select Irish ballads (64pp); Party Singalong ; Join in and Sing a Book of Select Irish Ballads by Oliver Carr (66pp); 100 Best Irish Songs and Ballads ; Irish Saints, Shrines and Holy Wells (69 pp); The Sporting Irish (95pp); Country Music in my Soul A Select book of Country and Western Ballads (72pp).
The Sporting Irish (c1976) and Haunted Ireland (c1976) were written by Leo Bowes who was Ireland's Own magazine's longest serving contributor. Leo featured in an RTE True Lives documentary filmed in October 2001 and broadcast on 26 November 2002 to celebrate the centenary of Ireland's Own magazine. Leo, living then in Wicklow, revealed that he had been contributing to Ireland's Own for 63 years, first submitting an article when he was twelve years of age (his first article was about a Saluki dog). He told how he had been praised for a composition at school by 'Buller Healy, the brother' (this may have alluded to Rev Brother James Columban Healy who taught at Artane Christian Brothers school Dublin from 1930. Rev Healy died in April 1968).
The Sporting Irish contains 55 sketches of sportsmen in Ireland including Dan O'Keeffe from Tralee; the wrestling Steve Casey/Casey brothers; Kenmare's Michael Sweeney and Tralee strongman, John Moriarty. Leo himself may have won a strand-pulling championship in Dublin in 1948. (The contents of this book and Haunted Ireland – which includes the Kerry legend of Lough Brin – are printed below.)
In the introduction to The Sporting Irish , Leo states, 'It was a great honour for me to be able to meet and chat with and watch in action some of Ireland's greatest sportsmen ... it was also my good fortune to have access to and to be in a position to collect and record valuable and interesting facts and statistics about many famous Irish sportsmen of past generations ...'. He subsequently reveals that he had worked for the Irish sports journal, Irish Sport (p39).
610 Leo, formerly of Fingal Street, Dublin, died at Castlekevin, Annamoe, Co Wicklow on 7 June 2007 and was buried at Kilmurry near Glendalough. His funeral at St Kevin's Church Glendalough was conducted by Fr Kevin Doran (now Bishop of Elphin).
Accessioned 25 March 2016. ______
Contents of The Sporting Irish
SPORTSMAN COUNTY SPORT PAGE 1 Martin J Sheridan 1881-1918 Mayo Athletics 4 2 John Moriarty 1894- Kerry (Tralee) Strongman 5 3 Lory Meagher Kilkenny Hurling 7 4 Charles Cleary Dublin Strandpulling etc 9 5 Frank Baird Dublin Cycling 11 6 Anthony McKinley 1842-1927 Antrim Strongman 12 7 Cecil Ewing Sligo? Golf 14 8 John Joseph Monaghan Belfast Flyweight boxing 15 9 Dick Grace Kilkenny Hurling 17 10 Dan O'Leary 1846- Cork (Clonakilty) Walking 19 11 Gerry Martina Dublin Wrestler 20 12 Willie Carroll Dublin? Boxing 22 13 Joe Collins Dublin? Boxing 24 14 Maeve Shankey (Kyle) Kilkenny Athletics/hockey 26 15 Bill Morton Dublin? Athletics 28 16 John Lawlor -1929 Wicklow Handball 29 17 James Cecil Parke 1881- Monaghan All-round 31 18 Matt McGrath 1876-1941 Tipperary Hammer-throw 32 19 Pat McDonald Clare Weight-thrower 34 20 Mike McTigue 1893- Clare Boxing 36 21 Tommy Hayden Dublin Weight-lifter 37 22 Fionbarr Callanan Dublin? Athletics 39 23 Michael Sweeney 1872- Kerry (Kenmare) High Jump 41 24 Brendan O'Reilly Longford High Jump 42 25 Peter O'Connor Wicklow Athletics 43 26 Eddie Heron Dublin Diving 45 27 Jack Vard Dublin? Wrestling/chess 46 28 Christy Ring Cork Hurling 48 29 Maurice Davin Tipperary Athletics 50 30 Harry Perry Dublin Boxing 51 31 Freddie Gilroy Belfast Boxing 53 32 Steve Casey/Casey Brothers Kerry Wrestling 55 (and Danno Mahon) Cork Wrestling 55 33 Vincent O'Brien Tipperary Horse Trainer 57 (trained John McShain's horse) 34 John McNally Belfast Boxing 59 35 Kathleen Mills Dublin (Cork father) Camogie 60 36 Johnny Hayes Tipperary Marathon 62 37 Kirwans Waterford Varied sports 63 38 Jack Kyle 1926- Belfast Rugby 65 39 Jack McAuliffe Cork Boxing 66 40 Mick the Miller 1926-1939 A greyhound 68 41 Ron Delaney Wicklow Runner 69 42 Dan O'Keeffe Kerry (Tralee) Footballer 71 43 Stanley Woods Dublin Motor Cycling 73 44 Michael "Maxie" McCullagh Westmeath Boxing 75 45 Wee Joe McEvoy Louth Athletics 77
611 46 Christy O'Connor Galway Golf 78 47 Reynoldstown A horse 80 48 Jack Kelly (Dempsey) 1862- Kildare Boxing 82 49 Master McGrath Waterford A greyhound 83 50 Denis Horgan Cork Athletics 85 51 Gerry Coleman Dublin Boxing 87 52 P J (Paddy) Prendergast Horse Trainer 89 53 Sean Norris Waterford Weightlifting 90 54 Jim McCourt Belfast Boxing 92 55 Noel Purcell Dublin Water-Polo 93
Contents of Haunted Ireland
Title Subject/Location Page
The Hell-Fire Club Dublin 3 The Footsteps on the Stairs Wexford 4 The Black Cat of Killakee Massy, Dublin 5 Screams from the Past Dublin 6 The Haunted Room Killarney 7 A Ghost in the Cellar Kildare 7 The Gentle Ghost Cavan 8 The Haunted Library Dublin 9 A Woman in the Window Dublin 11 The Miser's Room Dublin 12 The Lady in the Tower MacSwiney Donegal 13 The Phantom Funeral Tipperary 14 Tomb for a Bee Killucan Westmeath 15 The Man who came to dinner Kildare Castletown House 16 The Ghost of Tymon Castle Dublin Tallaght 17 He was Hanged in the wrong Galway, Joyce 18 The Jumping Church Louth 18 The Ghosts of Glendalough Wicklow 19 The Captain's Dog Dublin 20 Death in the Mountains Dublin 21 The Musical Lake Cork 22 Innocent Victim Haunted Judge Dublin 23 The Black Dog Morghen, Co Antrim 25 The Broadstone Murder Dublin 26 Ghost Brought Her Portlaw Inn Waterford 27 The Green Lady Dublin 29 The Ghost Train South Armagh 30 The Murdered Professor Edward Ford, Trinity College 31 The Black Ribbon Lady Beresford, Dublin 32 The Shying Bridge Midleton Cork 34 The Thing in Trooper's Lane Louth 34 The White Steed Wicklow 35 The Bugler's Grave Castlebar Mayo 37 Tragedy at Tuskar Rock Wexford 38
612 Scene of Battle Lahinch Clare 39 Tragedy on Lough Erne Enniskillen 40 Over the Bridge Monaghan/Armagh 41 The Phantom Sower South Down 42 Lady Betty Lady Betty, Roscommon 44 A Ghost in the Game Annacotty Limerick 45 Fairies in the Farmhouse Cork 45 A Soldier Comes Home Browne, Clongowes Wood 47 Hauntings Galore Marshalsea, Dublin 48 The Monster on Lough Brinn Kerry 49 Tragedy in Wynne Manor Tipperary 50 Spectre Guards Treasure Santa Maria de la Rosa Kerry 52 A Wexford Mystery Bunclody 53 A Co Kildare Haunting Naas 54 Zozimus Michael Moran Dublin 55 The Beggar's Bush Roscommon 56 Lough Neagh Mystery Antrim 57 The Young Soldier Dublin 58 The Mysterious Colonel Col Henry Luttrell Dublin 59 In Henrietta Street Dublin 60 The Wizard Earl Kilkea Castle Kildare 61 Buck Jones's Road Dublin Frederick E Jones 62 Echoes from 1690 Louth 64 The Phantom Soldier Loughree 65 A County Antrim Mystery Upper Ballygowan, Antrim 66 The Phantom Steamer Carlingford Lough 67 The Mystery of the Monk Waterford 68 Fleming's Folly Cavan 69 Death on Ireland's Eye Dublin 70 The Copper Dragon Cork 71 The Ghost of Armer's Gap Down 73 The Dalkey Gold Rush Dublin Etty Scott 74
______1 My thanks to Michael Keyes, Local Studies, County Library Tallaght for assistance in identifying McCaughey from local directories.
613 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A19
John Reidy
614 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A19 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: John Reidy CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 3 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A19 consists of a number of scans (and hard copies from scans) of British Railways and London Transport documents dating to the 1940s and 1950s and a copy of The Highway Code c1940s copied for the collection from the private papers of Committee PR Officer John Reidy, photographer and editor of the Maine Valley Post in Castleisland.
The documents belonged to Michael Reidy (1927-2012) of Knocknagore, Castleisland, John's (late) father (see poem IE MOD/29/29.8/29.8.2 'The Gallant Old Island').
Material contains:
IE MOD/A19/1 A signed British Railways 3rd class Pass expiring 31st December 1957, 'If the pass is lost and is promptly returned by the finder to British Railways a reward of 5s will be paid by British Railways which sum the holder shall pay to British Railways on demand'.
IE MOD/A19/2 One copy of The Highway Code (32-pages) dated c1940s
IE MOD/A19/3 One Map of Routes Trolleybus & Tram issued free, No 1, 1947, by London Passenger Transport Board
Accessioned 25 March 2016.
615 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A20
John Roche
616 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A20 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: John Roche CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 5 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A20 consists of material donated to the collection by committee chairman, John (Johnny) Roche, author of Listowel to the Liffey (2017) and Born for Hardship (2018) much of which relates to his forebears. Castleisland native John, a distant relation of Buck O'Grady (see IE MOD/60), co-founded FBD (Farmer Business Developments) Insurance and was among those who took part in the NFA organised march to Dublin in October 1966 for better conditions for farmers. 1
An article, 'Castleisland – Home of the Moonlighters' written by John is held in this series (IE MOD/A20/2 (26).
IE MOD/A20/1 One folder entitled 'Roche Family' contains four documents, three of which are permits to enter and leave Tralee issued to Thomas Roche of Castleisland during the months of June to September 1918. The fourth document is a letter issued by hand from HQ 19th Infantry Batt Castleisland dated 2 March 1923: 'The bearer Thomas Roche of Firies has permission to use cycle from 2/3/23 "Permanent" (Signed) H J Murphy Lieut'.
IE MOD/A20/2 One folder contains 26 items including poems, songs and prose from the private collection of Johnny Roche. The bulk of the material is handwritten, some is typed and some published. A proportion of the material is unidentified and it is not clear if those which are signed are original compositions or copies from another source. The poems/songs are as follows:
1. I've always been a handyman 2. Ballad of the Tinker's Wife 3. Ballads of Gaelic Chivalry 4. Eileen O'Neill 5. My dear old mountain home 6. Riordan's Party 7. Seamus Walsh Mount Falvey 8. The 1940 Bogmen 9. The Big Flood 10. The Castleisland Ambush 1923 11. The Old Dromoulton Road 12. The Road Down Hill 13. The Summit of Mount Falvey 14. The Talking Flea 15. This is the tale of a man and his wife 16. Those handsome Kerrymen 17. Tribute to Paddy Kennedy 18. Unpublished verse by email
617 Also included: 19. One nine-pg handwritten essay entitled 'The Land War and the Moonlighters' (transcribed below) 20. One typed page, 'Local Trivia' 21. 1 (of 2) exercise book in the name of Thomas Browne contains handwritten verse and songs 22. 2 (of 2) exercise book in the name of Thomas Browne contains handwritten verse and songs
'The Land War and the Moonlighters' (19), transcribed here, dates to c2007 or later. It is not clear if the article was published. It was written by Ballinskelligs native, Uinsin MacGruairc. 2
The Land War and the Moonlighters
The 'moonlighters' were a distinct organisation that was set up in the year 1879. They had no small involvement with the Land War and they undoubtedly had great influence on the life of the people, especially on the life of the small farmers. The fiercest fighting about land matters was in the district around Castleisland. There is an account concerning four murders in that district in the article, 'Songs of Agrarian Strife' by Pat Feeley in which it was said:
The murder capital of Ireland, blood stained Castleisland, as Peter O'Brien, Peter the Packer, later Lord O'Brien of Kilfenora called it.
Many questions arise from this statement; what were the causes which led to the setting up of this secret organisation? What kind of structure did they have? What were the events and actions in which they played a part? And was there a connection and cooperation between them and the Land League and the National League?
Limestone land is what is in the district around Castleisland, the very heart of the Glen of the Maine and there is rich and light soil there, the same as any other fertile place in Ireland. If there was to be protest about land matters anywhere in the country you would not expect such here. Dairying was the main business of the farmers and there was a butter market weekly in Earlstown. The two main products, potatoes and oats, were used as food for the pigs and fowl:
The economic growth of the town received a further boost in the 1870s with the development of a railway link. In 1872 a number of landlords met and founded the Castleisland Railway Company, the first directors were Lord Hedley (sic), Lord Ventry, John F Godfrey and Samuel Hussey. On 6 September 1875 the first train left Castleisland at 8.15 am for Gortatlea to meet the Great Southern and Western train from Tralee.
The new railroad opened in 1875 and they had now better access to the country's markets. Between 1850 and 1877 there was a rise in the standard of living and it was very easy to obtain a loan from the bank:
An increase in bank loans from £11 million in 1850 to £33 million in 1870. Large farmers had obtained loans from their banks and they in turn gave loans to the tenants with small holdings.
The weather in the years between 1877 and 1879 was cold and wet. Harvest weather was hard for three consecutive years and that period of time is called 'the little famine' ... the last famine in Ireland. There is a moving account concerning that time and the effect is had on the lives of the people in the book, An Droch Shaol by the author Cliodhna Cussen:
A wet piercing winter on the heels of an ugly wet summer we had that year. Potatoes were very scarce. We had not permission to eat but one potato for every meal. At times we had a cake of yellow meal, a thing that
618 was very tasty. We used to be always hungry that winter. The new baby, Nóirin, used to be crying, Sile and my grandmother used to be complaining about the wet turf, about the want of food, and about the cross baby. 'The drochshaol is coming to us again' the old woman used to say 'cold and wetness and want of food. There's nothing ahead of us'.
The English carried out one kind of plantation or other in Ireland from time to time between 1555 and 1692. Possession of the land was taken from the Irish and given to the foreigner. In the course of time they accepted the Irish as tenants so that rents would be obtained from them. They imposed hard conditions and the landlord could demand any rent he liked and he could dispossess the tenant without cause even if he had the rent paid. No allowance was to be had for improvements made to the holding and, without doubt, he could not sell the holding. Little was done by the English government to improve the living conditions and status of the tenants. In the Land Act of 1880 there was not but a weak effort to satisfy the dissatisfaction of the Irish. The Act was limited ... compensation was given for the improvement that was made on the farm in the case that a tenant was dispossessed, except where he was dispossessed because the rent was unpaid by him. The landlords still had the power and the law and forces of the government helped them to enforce the law.
On the 20th April 1879 a large meeting was organised in Irishtown in County Mayo, seeking to give support to the tenant farmers of this country. The main purpose they had was to put an end to the landlords and to give the land back to the farmers who now as tenants were doing the work for them. This was the first branch of the Land League. After this, on the 21st October 1879, the National Land League of Ireland was founded in Castlebar. The main aims associated with this organisation were:
Firstly to get a reduction on unfair rents, secondly to assist inhabitants of the land to become owners of the land and to give protection to the farmers who refuse to pay unfair rents.
Things were in a bad way in Castleisland district at the end of the year 1879 ... rents unpaid and arrears increasing, without help to be had from the bankers or from the shopkeepers. But yet the tenants were not satisfied to put up with the destruction and with the plunder in store for them as had been before with their people because of the Great Famine. They were willing to stand their ground to protect their families and their holdings. The tradition of freedom and independence was deep- rooted in the people of the district ... memories and lore about the Desmond Rising (1579-1583), the decapitated body of Gerald Earl buried in Cill an Anama, Buic Grady and his group of men in the Rising of 1798, the Whiteboys, Ribbonmen and Rockites, the Tithe War, the Fenians and the Republi- can Brotherhood, and, without doubt, the Invincibles. There was an account in the New York Times of 21st February 1883:
A man named Quinlan and two men named Mahoney, all ex-suspects, belonging to Castleisland have been arrested. They are charged with being members of the Invincibles.
According to the local lore, a group of men came together in Creaigín, near Castleisland, in the year 1879 and the secret society the 'moonlighters' was begun. The head of each cell of the organisation was called Captain Moonlight, Bob Finn was the leader in Castleisland, George Twiss in Cúil, Tom O'Connor from Ínsea Chumair in Currach and Garrett Fleming from Dubh Léig (Doolaig) the captain for Ballymacelligott. It is clear that the IRB or the NBSP (National Brotherhood of Saint Patrick) in America had connection with the movement as well, and that John O'Sullivan (The Bard) from Virginia was the 'supreme head' of the movement. There is a fine account of John O'Sullivan and the moonlighters in the book, I Forgive Them All by Paudy Scully:
The moonlighters were a secret society organised in cells of perhaps five to seven men, sometimes fewer, the head of each cell was only answerable to and under the control of John Sullivan (The Bard). What he said was law ... the moonlighters were mainly young, fearless, aggressive and idealistic men who followed a strict code of discipline and had an oath of silence.
It is said that the first action that was carried out was the reinstatement of the widow O'Leary in her
619 own holding after she was evicted by the land agent Sam Hussey, a man who had a bad reputation:
The first outrage nearby occurred on the 10th September 1879, when a band of armed men reinstated in her holding the evicted widow Leary. The hated land agent Sam Hussey retorted in future, by burning the houses of those evicted.
In the course of the year 1880 the land campaign set up by them spread throughout the region and they were active in every kind of strife and agitation not only did they attack the landlords and their estate agents but also the eviction notices' servers, bailiffs and land auctioneers also and any members of the public who helped them in any way. There is a chart with this article that shows a list of all the actions that occurred in the police district of Castleisland from December 1880 to September 1883. This was the most active period by the moonlighters. Arthur Herbert lived in a big house in Cillintiarna called Killeentiarna House. He was a magistrate and land agent as well. He was the most important figure in the trouble between the authorities and the tenants in the district around Castleisland. On Thursday the 30th March 1882 after he had spent the day as resident magistrate, he left Castleisland, and as he was returning home he was ambushed at Lisín Bhadúin (Bán) cross when he was shot and badly wounded. He stumbled but continued on; another gunshot was fired at him and he fell in a heap on the ground. A murder enquiry was set up by the Royal Irish Constabulary with sub constable H N Davies in charge of it. Even though some men were arrested, the authorities were unable to secure witnesses willing to give evidence against the people they suspected. There was an account of Herbert's murder in the English newspaper the Graphic in London and reference was made to the difficulties the authorities had to obtain information about the event:
Mr Herbert, who was shot in broad daylight on the road, about a quarter of a mile distant from Castleisland, my informant who was on the spot a very short time after the murder, and saw the body lying untouched, said to me, as we stood together on the very place, 'Do you know that people were working in these fields (open on one side of the road, a bank and thin hedge on the other) when those shots were fired and nobody knew anything?' ... too true an example of the conception these people have of their duties as citizens.
Heffernan Considine (1846-1912) was a resident magistrate in counties Kerry and Kilkenny and was an acting inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary as well. He spent four years in the police districts of Tralee, Dingle and Castleisland. He gave evidence to the 'Cowper Commission on Boycotting and Intimidation'.
1364 Q They (the moonlighters) have established such complete control that no one dare go against them? A That is so, I know of one case in which an evicted farm was taken by an individual ... in the Castleisland area. He has six policemen to protect him and I am perfectly certain his life would not be safe were it not for the protection.
When Parnell and Davitt became head of the Land League of Ireland in October in the year 1879 the land organisation became a national movement. It was Parnell, too, who was President of the party in the Native Parliament. The primary purposes of the Land League were:
1. Fair Rent 2. Fixity of Tenure 3. Freedom of Sale ... the three Fs
Under law of the government in 1881 commissioners were selected to fix rents throughout the country. On average the courts made a 20% reduction on rents. The moonlighters were not satisfied with this, complete ownership, that was what they wanted. Parnell and his colleagues issued the manifesto 'Pay no Rent' and tenants were advised not to pay the rent. Hundreds were arrested, Davitt and Parnell included. The campaign against rent failed and Parnell had to come to a settlement with Gladstone and the parliament and the Kilmainham Agreement and its conditions were accepted in 1882, April in that year. Prisoners were released on condition that they would make an order recalling the matter concerning the rents. The National League succeeded the Land League. The League was solely a political movement and its primary purpose was to secure a national parliament. There is a clear account of the struggle and difficulties of the tenants in Ireland and Parnell's efforts in the book,
620 The Fall of Feudalism or The Story of Land League Revolution (1904) by Michael Davitt:
It was the counter-revolution ... the complete eclipse, by a purely parliamentary substitute, of what had been a semi-revolutionary (democratic) organisation ... the overthrow of a movement and the enthronement of a man; the replacement of nationalism by Parnellism. In addition across much of the country, it made parish priests the political leaders of the community once more instead of nationalists or republicans.
The moonlighters cooperated with the Land League at first and with the coming of the National League they were satisfied to help them when it suited them.
A few years after that, a big change occurred in English law with the arrival of the Land Act (Ashbourne) 1885. Now, the Irish were free to purchase their own land through the Land Commission and a law was passed in the English Parliament during the summer of 1881 stating that a landlord could not evict anyone without having a court order. But, as it happened, it was in 1926 eventually that the Irish at last got lawful possession of their own lands.
A copy of the sources referred to in the above article, 'Songs of Agrarian Strife' by Pat Feeley, An Droch Shaol by sculptor Cliodna Cussen and I Forgive them All: the Judgement of John Twiss by Paudy Scully are included in this series and numbered 23, 24 and 25. An article, 'Castleisland – Home of the Moonlighters' written by MOD project chairman John Roche has also been copied for the collection and numbered 26.
Further reference, Land, Popular Politics and Agrarian Violence in Ireland The Case of County Kerry, 1872-86 (2011) by Donnacha Sean Lucey.
23. 'Songs of Agrarian Strife' by Pat Feeley, The Old Limerick Journal , Vol 37, Summer 2001, pp38-46. 24. An Droch Shaol (1980) by Cliodna Cussen. 25. I Forgive them All: the Judgement of John Twiss (2007) by Paudy Scully. 26. 'Castleisland – Home of the Moonlighters' by John Roche, Journal of the Kerry Archae- ological & Historical Society (2012), Series 2, Vol 12, pp159-166.
IE MOD/A20/3 One folder contains a scanned image of a membership card for The Irish National Land League, Castleisland branch, dated November 1880. It was issued to Rev A Murphy, CC. The card is coloured green and contains an image of a man ploughing with a horse in front of a dwelling. Its slogans are Ireland for the Irish; Down with Landlordism; Union is Strength; Keep a firm grip of your homesteads; The Land for the People. The reverse of the card outlines the 'Objects of the League':
The Irish National Land League was formed for the following objects:– First – To put an end to Rack-renting, Eviction, and Landlord oppression. Second – To effect such a radical change in the Land System of Ireland, as will put it in the power of every Irish Farmer to become the owner, on fair terms, of the land he tills.
The Means Proposed to Effect These Objects are:– (1) Organization amongst the people and Tenant Farmers for purposes of self-defence, and inculcating the ab- solute necessity of their refusing to take any farm from which another may be evicted, or from purchasing any cattle or goods which may be seized on for non-payment of impossible rent. (2) The cultivation of public opinion by persistent exposure, in the Press and by Public Meetings, of the mon- strous injustice of the present system, and of its ruinous results. (3) A resolute demand for the reduction of the excessive rents which have brought the Irish People to a state of starvation.
621 (4) Temperate but firm resistance to oppression and injustice.
The card was presented for copying by its owner, committee Chairman, John Roche on 26 November 2015.
IE MOD/A20/4 One folder contains Roche family correspondence 1868-1905 and also an image of Eugene Roche.
IE MOD/A20/5 One folder contains digital and hard copy images of letters and photographs relating to Griffin family ancestry donated from the private papers of Johnny Roche on 15 April 2016. Ten items.
IE MOD/A20/6 One photocopy of They Hanged John Twiss (1983 reprint) by Pat Lynch from the collection of Johnnie Roche.
Accessioned 25 March, 22 April & 16 November 2016.
______1 For which John Roche spent a fortnight in Limerick jail in 1967 for road disturbances in Tralee. A map published in the Irish Farmers' Journal of 8 October 1966 illustrated the extent of the march. The NFA (National Farmers Association) was the precursor of the IFA. John Roche was head of the Kerry branch of the NFA.
2 Uinsin MacGruairc was born in Ballinskelligs c1940, son of Cahersiveen Garda and Co Mayo native, James Groarke (1904-1989) and his wife Anne Kitson (died 1994). Attended Christian Brothers School in Cahersiveen later graduating BA from UCC and gained H-Dip in Education. Taught at Blarney National School and joined the Cork studios of RTE in July 1964 where he presented the programme 'A Woman's World'. Appointed regional officer there in 1968. MacGruairc was called to the Bar in 1982 and sworn in as District Justice in May 1990. Justice MacGruairc retired in January 2010 (see 'Tributes at Cork District Courthouse to retiring Judge Uinsin MacGruairc', Southern Star , 16 January 2010).
Genealogical Note on Kitson (or Kittson) of Kerry A name uncommon in this county in the nineteenth century, the Kitson family of Listowel received press attention during the Whiteboy period. An attack on the family home occurred on the morning of 15 September 1821:
Between the hours of two and three o'clock an armed mounted party of White Boys to the number of about forty attacked the house of Mr John Blakeney Kittson of Derry, county of Kerry, chief constable for the barony of Irraghtyconnor ... Mr Kittson kept up a constant fire as they crossed his windows ... in about ten minutes they set fire to the habitation which being thatched, was immediately in a blaze and burned most rapidly. Mr Kittson and his family consisting of his wife, six children and two maid-servants were forced therefrom ... being armed with a gun and a case of pistols, the party retreated from him to the rear of the house ... information has been sent by Mr Kittson to Pierce Leslie Esq, magistrate ( Morning Post , 21 Sept 1821).
The chief constable's bravery was acknowledged two weeks later during a trial in Tralee before Baron Pennefather who described Kitson's valour as 'most unusual, honourable and highly meritorious'. The Liberator also took the opportunity to address Kitson 'in terms of the highest approval and panegyric'.
In an article about 'Captain Rock' published in the Irish Examiner (13 August 1932), the attack on 'Mr Kitson's house at Gunsboro' was alluded to. It is not clear if Kitson was targeted again or if he had accommodation near the barracks at Gunsborough or the Villa/House there at Knockenagh (the early history of Gunsborough House, birth- place of Horatio Herbert Kitchener, is sketchy. Robert Bell Esq appears to have been in residence in the 1840s. In 1853, the Gun/Mahony families: 'In consequence of the death of the late Pierce Mahony Esq of Kilmeany, his Kerry estates purchased from Robert Gun Cunningham Esq of Mount Kennedy, county Wicklow, are now inherited by George Philip Gun Mahony, eldest son of the late P K Mahony Esq, and great-grandson of the late George Gun Cunninghame Esq of Gunsbro' ( Irish Examine r, 30 March 1853)).
622 The chief constable may later have been stationed in Nenagh. The marriage notice of Blakeney Kittson Esq of Derry, Co Kerry, eldest son of John Blakeney Kittson of Nenagh, Co Tipperary to Margaret Goodman, eldest daughter of Lt William Jones, RN, Clogher House, County Kerry (officiated by Rev A B Rowan at Blennerville Church) on 16 October 1838 described the groom as 'grand nephew to the late Lt General Lord Blakeney' (William Blakeney, 1st Baron Blakeney of Mount Blakeney, Co Limerick was a distinguished general who is remembered as the defender of Minorca. He died in 1761 unmarried, when the title became extinct).
A son was born to Blakeney Kittson at Clogher House in July 1839 whose 'sudden death' occurred on 23 December 1866: 'At Newport, Tipperary, Dr John Blakeney Kitson, age 26, only son of Blakeney Kittson Esq of Derry, Co Kerry'. Blakeney Kitson died in December 1874.
His brothers were George Leslie Kitson (died 25 December 1902) and Francis Kitson. The following BDMs may be of use:
1841 Married in Nenagh church, Goodman Gentleman of Ballyhorgan, Co Kerry to Anne, second daughter of John B Kittson Esq (Dublin Morning Register, 23 Feb 1841)
1846 Married 21 July at Nenagh Church, John Roche Rice Esq MD Listowel to Clifford, third daughter of John Blakeney Kittson Esq, Nenagh, Co Tipp (John Roche Rice seems to have gone to San Francisco by 1870)
1849 Died Castle St, Nenagh, residence of her son, Dr Kittson in 63rd year of age Mary, wife of John Blakeney Kittson Esq of Listowel
1850 Died 28 October at his son's residence at Derry, County Kerry, John B Kitson Esq, age 74
1852 Married at Kilkee Church, Charles Wilkinson Kempston Esq of Nenagh to Fanny youngest daughter of late John Blakeney Kittson of Derry Co Kerry ( Limerick and Clare Examiner , 17 July 1852)
1875 Died, Mrs Benson of Listowel, aunt of the late Blakeney Kitson of Derry, aged 103
The Kitson family is also recorded in Kerry at Kilnaughtin Glebe (John and Edward). On 2 January 1868 at Ardfert church, Edward Kitson Esq was married by Rev John Kerin (uncle to the bride) to Matilda, second daughter of John Creagh Esq, Dromartin.
In 1896, representatives of 'the late Edward Kitson' sold the glebe farmlands at Kilnaughtin.
623 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A21
Breda Brooks
624 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A21 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Breda Brooks CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A21 consists of a photographic donation by Breda Brooks, sister of the late Michael O'Donohoe, who generously made available her brother’s papers for this project.
It is an A5 sized black and white image copied from original in the possession of Breda Brooks. Pictured in the centre is their late father, Garda O'Donohoe. Other identifiable names were provided by Johnny Roche and Tomo Burke.
The photograph was taken (by unknown) in Castleisland during the election campaign of 1956:
Mr de Valera opened his North Kerry by-election tour with a meeting at Castleisland last night. He was given a tumultuous reception in a town that was ringed with bonfires. On arrival at the outskirts he was met by a cheering crowd. He was escorted to the platform in a procession headed by the Cullen pipers' band, and including a cavalcade of horsemen, torch-bearers and a contingent of IRA veterans under Mr J B Mahoney. 1
The photograph was brought in for accessioning by Chairman, Johnny Roche.
Accessioned 30 March 2016.
To this series is now added digital copies of photographs loaned to the collection for copying by Breda Brooks on 24 July 2015, consisting of 13 family photographs including one of Michael O’Donohoe as a child and a small quantity of newspaper articles. One A4 bound booklet of items concerning the 50th anniversary of Erin's Hope's Dublin Senior County Football Title win over St Vincents is also copied. Also added to this series, copy of article, ‘RIC Mutiny at Castleisland’ by Donal J O’Sullivan published in Siocháin (undated) pp 82, 83 & 85. Article contributed by Breda Brooks in October 2018.
Accessioned 12 November 2018.
Image (right) shows Breda Brooks with John Reidy in 2015, when biographical material about the O’Donohoe family was presented to the collection.
______1 Irish Press , 18 February 1956. Full report on page nine of same edition. The genealogy of Eamon de Valera is .discussed in The Church of Ireland in Co Limerick: Edited Research Correspondence January 2012 to December 2013 (2014).
625 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A22
Tomo Burke
626 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A22 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Tomo Burke CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 6 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A22 contains material copied for the collection from the private collection of commit- tee chairman, Tomo Burke. It consists of a black and white digital image of the retirement of Sergeant Troy in the 1950s; two books of poetry by Maurice J Reidy of Castleisland; the memoir of Seamus O'Connor of Knocknagoshel; a poem, 'I was born in Sandy Row' and a photograph of Castleisland town in 1974.
IE MOD/A22/1 One black and white digital image of the retirement party of Sergeant Troy taken at the Crown Hotel Castleisland in the early 1950s. Names provided by Tomo Burke as follows:
Back row: Garda Mike Behan, Garda Matt O'Donohoe, Michael O'Herlihy, Main St; Billy Knight, Crown Hotel Centre row: Garda Pat Ryan, Garda Dick Corr, Garda Jerry O'Shea, Michael Allen, Killarney Road; Paddy Brosnan, NT, Boys National School; William Costello, publican, Main St (next door to Crown); Davy Griffin, publican newsagent turf accountant; Patty Cremin, farmer Front: Garda John OMahony, Tom Moriarty, Knockeen, Castleisland; Timothy (Mutt) Murphy, painter; Sergeant Troy, William O'Keeffe, Church Street, Castleisland, Jeweller; Front (kneeling) : Tom(?) Moriarty jnr, Knockeen; Harold Murphy, Tralee Road, Castleisland
IE MOD/A22/2 One copy of a signed copy of The Kerry Piper: All Universal Poetry Original and Natural (Second Collection) 1974 by M J Reidy and Borders of Song By Author of the Kerry Piper (1976). A review of the former stated:
Castleisland-man Maurice J Reidy, Kilcusnin, Cordal, has produced his second collection of poems titled The Kerry Piper , which he describes as 'Universal Poetry Original and Natural'. The slim volume of 35 poems was printed by The Kerryman Ltd, Tralee. He writes of many things in these poems, his beloved Castleisland town; Listowel Races, '73 and his last poem titled 'The Sportsman' will recall for generations of Kerry folk - particularly Tralee folk - that beloved Gael and GAA fan, the late William ('Fitzie') Fitzgerald. The slim volume sells at 50p and can be obtained from Mr Reidy at his home address (given above). 1
Tomo Burke, who purchased the books from M J Reidy, described Maurice J[oseph?] as a happy-go-lucky character who bred race horses (including The Nameless One). Tomo enjoyed the naturalistic and humorous elements of Maurice's work, such as 'The Spider and the Fly' and 'To an Attractive Moth, Snatched by a Swallow', both from The Kerry Piper :
Her plumage gay, She did display All charms to catch the eye. So close, a Pirate from the Air, Just took Her – for a Fly.
An appreciation of The Kerry Piper was published in The Kerryman of 1974 (by Mrs M Roth-
627 Henderson of Woking) and in the same year, Maurice was informed by Malayan teacher and educationalist, Mdm Tan Ghat Bee of Penang that five of his poems including 'Castleisland Town' would be included in an anthology soon to be published in that country. 2
Borders of Song contains twenty poems including 'The Rose of Banna Strand', a short introduction and a foreword by Tan G Bitang:
M J Reidy writes with a patriotic fervour for love of nature and his beautiful country ... This is a short passage included in the back of the text prepared for Malaysian school education for seniors edited and compiled by myself Tan G Bitang into an anthology of Essays, Articles and Short Stories ...As an educationalist, I've found M J Reidy's poetry, essays all relevant to the international breath of scope intended for school education today.
An appreciation by Ludwig P Niesert of Berlin described the work as 'striking' and remarked on the author's 'intimate knowledge of the vast Anglo-Irish poetical tradition'.
Maurice also produced Rays of Cheer: third collection of non-fiction essays with poetry in 1978 on the publication of which a reviewer commented:
There are no signs that this work, his third, is as the result of an enormous public demand for poetry. In fact, most people don't seem to care if poems were never written again. But this doesn't deter men like Maurice Reidy. They publish their work at their own expense and don't worry if there is no great sale for the result. In fact Maurice Reidy gives away much of his work to public libraries. The remainder he sells on the streets, mostly to students. Few bookshops contain copies of his poems and essays. His latest work, called Rays of Cheer , was printed at The Kerryman Ltd at Mr Reidy's own expense. It costs £1.20 to buy which isn't bad value for 34 pages of closely set poems and stories.
The reviewer alluded to the inside cover of the book which contained messages of encouragement from Ludwig P Niesert of Berlin and Katijah Tan G B of Malaysia and that 'Maurice Reidy is recognised in such far-flung places and is little known at home'. 3
Other works include First Collection of Stories (1975); Borders of Joy (1975); Mirror of Truth: natural poetry anthology (1979); Vision of Nature (1979); Rays of Light: non-fiction humorous stories (1980); Shades of Fancy: non-fiction humerous (sic) stories with poetry (1981); Pleasant Holidays: non-fiction humorous stories with poetry (1983).
Maurice was included in the fourth and fifth editions of the International Who's Who in Poetry (Kerryman , 13 February 1976).
A note (with anecdote) about M J Reidy ('Mossien Tommie') published with an image at find-a- grave reveals that Maurice was born in 1917 at Glanlarehan, County Kerry, son of Helen Flaherty Reidy (see http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=131492082).
Maurice, married with a son and a daughter, died on 15 May 1988. His literary papers are held at the local studies and archives, Tralee.
IE MOD/A22/3 One copy of 140-pg Tomorrow was Another Day Irreverent Memories of an Irish Rebel School- master (1987, 2nd ed) by Seamus O'Connor published posthumously by his son, Rory. First edition by Anvil Books Ltd 1970; second edition by R.O.C. Publications. Back cover of second edition contains note on the author:
628 Seamus O'Connor was born in a thatched farmhouse in Meenahila, Knocknaghoshel, County Kerry in August 1900. He learned his Fenianism mostly from an old Moonlighter uncle, 'John the Yank', an implacable enemy of the RIC and the reactionary Church Establishment. He went to school in Enniskillen, Listowel and Dungannon and eventually became a national teacher. He fought in the Black-and-Tan war and in the civil war was a captain attached to GHQ on intelligence work in Munster on the Republican side. He was imprisoned and escaped. He taught in a Kerry school for over forty years, sharing his Republican, egalitarian and humorous philosophy with his pupils, skirmishing occasionally with the Establishment, lay and clerical. Mr O'Connor died of a heart attack, in retirement in Dublin, in December 1969, leaving a wife, two sons and three daughters.
IE MOD/A22/4 Photocopy of an eleven-stanza handwritten poem, relates the tragic love story of a Catholic- Protestant union. It was given to Tomo by Phil Brennan who hailed from north Donegal and married a Kerry woman (Phil died about three years ago and is buried locally). The poem begins:
I was born in Sandy Row, a loyal Orange Prod I stood for good King William, that noble man of God. My motto - No surrender, my flat the Union Jack And every 12th I proudly marched to Fenithe and back. A loyal son of Ulster, a true blue that was me Prepared to fight, prepared to die for faith and liberty. As well as that a Linfield man as long as I can mind And I had no time for Catholics, nor any of their kind.
Online versions of the poem under various titles including The Papish Girl, The Papisher and the Prod, and I Loved a Papish Girl, attribute the work to John McKearney or James Young (1918- 1974). It was earlier published in an edition of Ireland's Own .
IE MOD/A22/5 One A4 photocopy of two black and white images each measuring 8cm x 5cm depicting lines of turf carts in Castleisland circa 1941-41. Origin of images not known. See poem 'The 1940 Bogmen' IE MOD/A20/2 (8).
IE MOD/A22/6 One print and digital image of Castleisland in 1974 from an image displayed in Tomo Burke's Electrical shop, Castleisland (photographed by Janet Murphy 8 April 2016). The 1974 scene was formerly displayed in the Bank of Ireland and was gifted to Tomo Burke during a branch renovation. The original photograph was taken by Timothy Murphy.
Accessioned 1 & 4 & 8 April 2016.
______1 Kerryman , 29 March 1974. The first volume was announced in October 1973, 'The first volume, costing 35p, is at present available in small quantities in Hurley's and The Gem bookshops, Tralee' ( Kerryman , 19 Otober 1973). 2 Kerryman , 2 August 1974. It was later announced a further seven would be included ( Kerryman , 16 August 1974). 3 Kerryman , 3 November 1978. In Kerryman of 9 May 1975 it was reported that 'Writing from Penang, Malaysia, to Castleisland's poet Maurice J Reidy, Madame Tan Gat Bee says M J Reidy is a natural poet and essayist very much in touch and in tune spiritually with nature particularly of his beloved country'. The foreword of Borders of Hope: second collection of non-fiction stories (1978) was supplied by the Malaysia educationalist. In the book, Giving our Best: The Story of St George's Girls' School, Penang 1885-2010 (2010) by Salma Nasution Khoo, Alison Hayes and Sehra Yeap Zimbulis, reference is made to an arts and crafts society started by Tan Guat Bee.
629 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A23
T F O’Sullivan
630 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A23 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: T F O’Sullivan CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A23 relates to IE MOD/67 Romantic Hidden Kerry .
It contains a photocopy of Irish Footprints in the Temple (1918) by author of the above, T F O'Sullivan. The content was delivered as a lecture in the Carnegie Library, Listowel in 1917 (expanded on in the publication) during the course of which O'Sullivan revealed the following:
Since October last it has been my lot to reside almost permanently in London. During that period my work was entirely in the English House of Commons ... I commenced a series of investigations into the Irish historical associations of the city ... I first reverently turned my footsteps to the Temple with which the names of so many distinguished Irishmen have been identified for almost four centuries and my address tonight is the result of numerous visits to those historic buildings.
O'Sullivan commenced his lecture with the history of the foundation of the Knights Templar in London and in Ireland, and opened with lines from J F O'Donnell's poem, 'Goldsmith's Grave':
I love this quiet Temple nook, This ancient haunt of wren and rook, Thick writ with legends like a book.
Dark-circled in the town it lies, Above it loom the misty skies, Outside the songs of commerce rise.
Ten paces from the battling street Lurks the old-fashioned, quaint retreat, A land of murmurs low and sweet.
Afar the yellow river gleams, Within there is a sound of streams, An island lulled in dreams it seems.
There, open to the sun and rain, There, alien unto tears and pain, There, whilst the seasons wax or wane,
Rich-hearted Goldsmith takes his rest, Earth's silent, unobtrusive guest, Between the sunrise and the West.
'What a litany of great names come almost unbidden to the lips of the student' he wrote, 'Oliver Goldsmith, Edmund Burke, William Molyneux, Theobald Wolfe Tone, Henry Grattan and his great rival, Henry Flood, John Philpot Curran, Thomas Moore, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Lord Chief Justice Whiteside, Lord Cloncurry, Lord Cairns, Robert Nugent afterwards Earl of Clare; A M Sullivan, Lord Charles Russell to mention only a few of the more notable men of Irish birth who have been associated with the famous buildings ... what mingled feelings of pride and sorrow and shame do these names evoke. Surely there are some of them that Ireland would
631 never willingly let die?'. 1
Item ordered from the National Library of Ireland at a cost of €9.50. A print of O'Donnell's 'Goldsmith's Grave' and 'To the Empress Eugenie'(see following note) included in this series.
Accessioned 7 April 2016. ______1 A full report of the lecture was published in The Kerryman , 13 October 1917.
Note on J[ohn] F[rancis] O'Donnell (1837-1874)
Journalist, poet and author John Francis O'Donnell (who also wrote under the names Caviare and Monkton West) was described as the most gifted poet of his generation. A thirty-two stanza poem addressed 'To the Empress Eugenie' –
Lady, whom times unfortunate, Have left forlorn, disconsolate, Reft of the plundered robe of state:
Thou, sitting by that English sea, Thy bright boy leaning at thy knee, Hast what they could not take from thee – was acknowledged by the Empress via her aide, Commandant Duperré, son of Admiral Duperré, writing from Camden-place, Chislehurst on 4 November 1870:
Commandant Dupini (sic) has the honour to offer the expression of his most sympathetic sentiments to Mr John Francis O'Donnell, associate of the Nation . He is charged to transmit to him the thanks of the Empress, who has been deeply moved by Mr O'Donnell's poem and by the marks of sympathy which she has received from the noble people of Ireland. 1
O'Donnell was encouraged by Charles Dickens to adopt literature as a profession. His writings included The Emerald Wreath; a Fireside Treasury of Legends and Stories &c (1864) and Memories of the Irish Franciscans (1871). A novel, Castle Doonagh, or Agents and Evictions which contained 'a closeness to the facts of Irish life' was serialised in The Lamp in 1872.
O'Donnell married Jane, only daughter of Henry Jones Esq (evidently a jeweller of Clonmel, Co Tipperary) at the Church of St Andrew, Westland-row, Dublin on 15 August 1863 and had issue. He died on 7 May 1874 aged 37:
He was indefatigable in every department of literature; he contributed leaders to political journals of the first rank; wrote squibs and satires for the comic publications; stories of fiction for the serials; reviews for the magazines and London correspondence for American and Irish papers. Yet it was still the story of Oliver Goldsmith, and life was a scene of endless drudgery for him ... He was taken suddenly ill a fortnight ago and died on Wednesday week of an internal tumour which must have often caused him agony but of which he was never known to complain. When he was obliged to furnish some of his most laughter-provoking touches of wit and sarcasm, the poor fellow often may have gasped with pain. I, who write these lines, have mournful proof now in my hands that when last he left his office he felt he was going home to die. So the cheek may be tinged with a warm sunny smile/And the cold heart to ruin run darkly the while – Moore 2
O'Donnell was buried in London:
632 Yesterday the remains of John F O'Donnell were interred in Kensal Green Cemetery. The burial was private, being confined to the immediate family of the deceased and a few of his most intimate friends, members of Parliament, of the Press and others. The body is to be removed from the place of first interment and placed in a grave side by side with Michael Cleary, who years ago was well and honourably known in connection with the Nation newspaper. This change of sepulchre has been made at the suggestion of Mr Hugh Heinrick. A fund is being raised for the benefit of the family of the deceased poet which already reaches to a considerable sum. Lord O'Hagan contributes £10, A M Sullivan, MP £5; Mitchell Henry MP £5, Mr Hazle £10, and several other smaller sums ( Freeman's Journal , 11 May 1874).
A visitor to Kensal Green cemetery the following year ( Nation, 27 Nov 1875) observed the following:
Here is the grave of John F O'Donnell, the charming Caviare. Speaking of his death, said one whom an empire has not been tardy in acknowledging to be a statesman, 'We have lost in O'Donnell the most versatile writer that Ireland has produced for thirty years.' Beside him, is his friend Itzstein, a young German who out- lived him only a few months. 3 A few years ago, when O'Donnell was the guest of his now dead companion, I met them at Frankfort where the enthusiastic young German allowed us over Goethe's house. I remember the rapturous delight and intense pleasure with which O'Donnell surveyed every trifling object there and the impression was plainly not superficial as he afterwards and in his best style immortalized the visit in verse in the pages of a London magazine. The chrysanthemums are just bursting into bloom over him, and the ivy is trailing round the tombstone shared in common by the constant friends, and, strange memory to me, on it is a passage from one of the poems of Goethe whom both reverenced: Das grab sei nah, das grab sei fern, Die erde ist des Herrn (The grave be near, the grave be far, the earth belongs to God).
A subscription fund was raised for his destitute widow and family, which included a son born posthumously. 4
In 1875, Edward Hazle Esq proposed to edit a two volume edition of O'Donnell's poems, the publisher Macmillan & Co, and appealed for material though the project seems to have foundered. 5
The Southwark Irish Literary Club, co-founded by Francis Arthur Fahy (1854-1935) established a fund in 1888 for a memorial to be raised over O'Donnell's grave. 6 In 1890, the O'Donnell Memorial Committee proposed to use the sum raised in the publication of O'Donnell's Poems and the surplus in the erection of a Celtic cross.
Poems , edited by Richard Dowling, was published in 1891 and by May 1893, work was under- way in Kensal Green cemetery where 'the disgraceful condition of certain Irish graves in London' was remarked on; O'Donnell's 'marked by a falling stone from which the inscription has entirely disappeared' ( Flag of Ireland , 20 May 1893). The refurbished memorial was unveiled a decade later by 'an Irish Franciscan from Tipperary' ( Nottingham Evening Post , 5 November 1903).
O'Donnell's widow and known children, Mary K (born c1865), Jane (born c1866), John Henry (born c1869) and a son born posthumously may have subsequently removed to France: 'The late poet's widow obtained a position of governess to the daughter of a French duchess in Paris – thanks to the medium of Charles Gavan Duffy' ( The Southern Star , 26 May 1894).
In 1883, John Henry O'Donnell was a student of St Mary's Roman Catholic school in Black- heath, London. In July of that year he performed at a concert after which he was 'called forward by the audience' ( The Tablet , 21 July 1883, p35). An unnamed correspondent, writing from London in March 1884, described the song as 'quite a success' and remarked on young
633 O'Donnell's ability:
Imagine my pleasure the other day in picking up amongst a bundle of part songs a quartette for soprano, alto, tenor, and basso entitled 'Summer Flowers, words by J O'Donnell, music by Rev J Minnett'; for I recognised in the first-named author the fourteen-year-old son of that rarely gifted child of genius, the late John F O'Donnell, well and honourably known to readers of Irish national literature. I do not believe in publishing verses merely because the author is very young but I think the following will show that our lamented friend, J F O'D, may yet be found to have left a true heir of his name:
Fair Summer now with bounteous hand Scatters her verdant riches round, And flowers in every clime and land With varied colours deck the ground. The blossoms of the Spring are gone; Primrose and crocus pale are dead; By Summer beauties far outshone, They disappear from field and bed.
John Henry O'Donnell, like his father, worked as a journalist on a London daily paper. The census of 1911 reveals he was single and living at 34 Myddelton Square. His death was registered in Islington in June 1938. 7 The fate of his siblings is not known.
Jane O'Donnell died on 20 April 1916 at St Stephen's Hospital, Chelsea aged 77. She had been lodging at 2 Northampton Park, Canonbury, Middlesex.
Further reference, 'A Tale of Two Poets' by Jim Kemmy in The Old Limerick Journal, Vol 20, Winter 1986, pp26-28 which contains an artist's impression of O'Donnell.
______1 Poem published in the Nation of 17 September 1870; acknowledgement in the Kilkenny Journal , 23 November 1870. Biography of Eugénie (Eugénia María de Montijo de Guzmán) (1826- 1920), comtesse (countess) de Teba, wife of Napoleon III and Empress of France from 1853-1870 in Encyclopaedia Britannica . One of the sons of Admiral Duperré married a daughter of Lucien Theodore Napoleon Bonaparte-Wyse (1845-1895). Lucien was brother of Marie Laetitia (Madame Rattazzi) and half-brother of Waterford born poet, William Charles Bonaparte- Wyse and Napoleon Alfred Bonaparte-Wyse (see Bonaparte-Wyse papers at National Library of Ireland). Lucien's daughter Laetitia married Aristide Bergasse du Petit-Thouars in 1895.
2 Nation , 16 May 1874. Two tribute poems, the first entitled 'John F O'Donnell' by 'F S' (two stanzas: 'Another light has died away, another spirit's fled,/Death holds another soldier in his grim array of dead) and 'J F O'Donnell' by 'A C' (four stanzas: 'Amid the sorrow which thy tomb encircles/From every corner of thy motherland,/Let one poor stranger, whom thy verses gladdened/On other shores, take now his humble stand' and which concluded, 'raise your voices to our God in heaven/to guard his loved ones, and preserve his soul') were published in the Nation 16 May 1874 and 25 July 1874 respectively.
3 Evidently Arthur Itzstein, in full, perhaps, Arthur Johannes Adamus Petrus Itzstein (1843-1874) a print-seller in partnership with Frederick William Julius Zorn of Mecklenberg Schwerin trading as Zorn & Co at 120 London Wall, 56 Fore-street, 81 Fleet-street and Ogle-street circa 1863 to June 1868 when the partnership was dissolved. In August 1868, an advertisement was placed as follows: 'Agency wanted – A gentleman native and resident in Hamburg is desirous of representing some first-class firms of the United Kingdom for the sale of foreign produce. Being in daily communication with the first houses of the place, he is enabled to offer special advantages for the sale of cotton, lima-wood, coffee, sugar, cocoa, tobacco, &c, articles which he knows thoroughly, having been many years abroad ... Address A.S. care of Messrs Arthur Itzstein & Co 120 London-Wall'. Itzstein was declared bankrupt in Brighton in 1869. His cause of death in 1874 is not known. Zorn & Co were printers of The Chromolithograph , a Journal of Art Literature, Decoration and the Accomplishments from 1868, a publication founded in 1867 and edited by William Day, lithographer to the Queen. Zorn may later have traded as Zorn Bahnson & Co c1870-72.
634 ______4 'Last week there was born in London a little infant boy the child of our lost friend. Poor little one. Child of a sorrowful birth. Hereafter he may be proud of the name of the father he has never seen' ( Nation ,10 October 1874).
5 In 1876, the poems remained unpublished and 'the volume will not be anything like a complete collection ... if it be received as it ought to be by his countrymen a second volume will probably be put to press' ( Dublin Weekly Nation , 19 February 1876). In January 1882, T F Craven asked the editor of the Nation why there was no collection of O'Donnell's poems which suggests that the project foundered.
6 'Mr Michael MacDonagh, author of Irish Graves in England was, with John T Kelly, chiefly instrumental in build- ing a monument over that of poor, forgotten John F O'Donnell, a native of Ada Behan's native city, Limerick' (Southern Star , 26 May 1894, 'The progress of the National Irish Literary Movement'). The same article (which reviewed W P Ryan's The Irish Literary Revival its History Progress and Possibilities (1894)) included an outline of the history of The Southwark Literary Club in London: [It] was the first of any of the organised movements for the promotion of Irish literature. It was started on January 2nd, 1882. It was composed of a group of fifty young men and young women ... Frank Fahy, whose pen name is Drevlin ... presided most worthily over the destinies of the club while John T Kelly was its secretary ... After 1889 the club removed its quarters to Clapham ... The club collapsed shortly after. The career of Irish literature has been often strewn with literary wreckage and ruin.'
7 References and assistance in research of above courtesy Eileen Chamberlain.
635 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A24
Peggy Reidy
636 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A24 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Peggy Reidy CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 3 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A24 consists of a donation to the collection by Peggy Reidy of Knocknagore. Peggy, a former employee of Muckross Traditional Farms, advised that the material originated from her husband's uncle.
IE MOD/A24/1 One black and white photocopy of a newspaper article originally published in the Killarney Echo of Saturday December 12 1917 entitled 'Castleisland priest survives ship disaster'. It had been reproduced by Tralee historian, Russell McMorran for the Kerry's Eye newspaper, 23 December 1997.
It records the sinking of a P & O liner during its voyage to Australia after encountering a mine on 23 June 1917. Father Jerry Reidy of Farranabrack, Castleisland was among the passengers who survived and was taken in a Portuguese ship to Bombay where 'he was able to walk in his socks to a nearby hotel'.
IE MOD/A24/2 One black and white photocopy of photograph of students outside Curranes Boys National School in the 1920s (with captions). Curranes National School, located in the townland of Lackabaun, Castleisland was built in the late nineteenth century. In 1876, Ven Archdeacon O'Connell, parish priest, advertised for a teacher and assistant. The school was rebuilt approximately fifty years ago on a site nearby. Nothing remains of the old building.
IE MOD/A24/3 One black and white photocopy of photograph of students from Curranes National School circa 1940s, names handwritten below image.
Accessioned 12 April 2016.
Tomo Burke with Peggy Reidy in Castleisland at the time of the donation
637 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A25
David Geaney
638 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A25 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: David Geaney CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 10 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A25 consists of material donated to the collection by Castleisland veterinary surgeon, David Geaney and brought into the office by Tomo Burke on 15 April 2016 (IE MOD/A25/1) and 24 May 2016 ((IE MOD/A25/2-10).
The material was accessioned in two lots, the first comprised of an image from Castleisland Boys' National School in 1932.
The second lot dates to the first decade of the twentieth century and relates to the old post office in Castleisland (formerly sited on Main Street at the corner of Church Street). At this period the Reidy and Edgeworth families were employed there. The death of Mrs Reidy was recorded in March 1907. An obituary described how she was 'the head of the Guild of our Associations':
She was most charitable; all her life she gave the poor people their weekly pension ... during the famine of 1849 while coming from the Rosary about dusk, stepping over the channel something tripped her and turning round she found a poor man dead of hunger. She had five brothers, Joseph, Maurice, Michael, James and John and three sisters Ellen, Mary and Jane. One of her brothers, Maurice, was proprietor of a splendid medical hall in The Mall, Tralee for years in the sixties. One of her sisters was a Mrs Edgeworth, the daughter of whom is now postmistress in Castleisland' (Killarney Echo , 9 March 1907).
Two of Mrs Reidy's unmarried nieces worked in the post office, Hannah Edgeworth, who died at her residence in Castleisland, aged 75, on 25 March 1930 and her sister Ellen Edgeworth, who died on 27 December 1938 aged 76. Both were born in Cork, and buried at Kilbannivane new cemetery.
In August 1947, Mrs Bridget Heffernan advertised for sale 'her valuable dwelling house, yard and garden situate in Main Street, Castleisland and known as Castleisland Post Office'.
IE MOD/A25/1 One copy of a black and white image of students from the Castleisland Boys' National School taken in 1932 with captions (a digital and hard copy have been made)
IE MOD/A25/2 One handwritten letter measuring 18 cm x 11 cm dated 12 April 1904 on embossed notepaper 'Convent of Mercy, Holy Cross, Killarney' addressed to Miss Edgeworth, Post Office, Castleisland, Kerry from Sr M Ursula in which she appeals 'on behalf of the orphans':
Dear Miss Edgeworth, An appeal in behalf of the orphans will not I trust be made in vain to you. We are trying to organise a course of training as servants for our poor girls and this means money. The community being in debt cannot lose what is required – hence this raffle. Now Miss Edgeworth I am sure you will do your part to forward so good a work. The little I ask you will not miss yet it will be a great help to us in our effort to make of these girls useful members of society. What you
639 give to the poor (I need not tell you) you lend it to the good god who will repay you a hundred-fold even in this life. Do not then refuse this little request and long after you have forgotten your kindness to us we shall remember you and yours whether living or dead in our prayers. With best and kindest wishes and hoping to hear from you soon. Sincerely yours, Sr M Ursula. PS May I trouble you to return tickets if you do not purchase.
The letter, contained in the original envelope, has the stamp cut from it (a practice then commonly carried on whereby stamps were sent to the missions). Enclosed with the letter is a booklet of five raffle tickets printed on pink paper measuring 18 cm x 6 cm:
To be raffled on 15th August in aid of The Killarney Orphanages 1. Set of Silk Crochet 2. A £3 Note 3. A Silver Tea Pot. Tickets – Six Pence Each.
The Killarney Orphanages, or St Joseph's Industrial School for boys and girls, was run by the Sisters of Mercy in the grounds of their convent at Coollegrean in Killarney. It opened in 1861. In 1969, there were 83 girls in the Killarney facility (for earlier statistics the 1911 Census of Ireland return for Coollegrean names the children then on the school record). A report commissioned by Donogh O'Malley in the 1960s called for the abolition of the industrial schools system and its replacement by group homes. The first purpose-built group home was constructed in 1976. In April 1980, Sr Aloysius of the Mercy Convent thanked Killarney Soroptimists for a contribution to help furnish a new group home: 'The three group homes now run by the sisters in Killarney replace the old orphanage' (Airne Villa, Rock Road, Killarney opened in 2000). It is not clear when St Joseph's Industrial School closed its doors though the Sisters of Mercy Laundry announced its closure from 30 December 1989. In recent years St Joseph's Industrial School, of which nothing remains, has been subject to a number of allegations of abuse.
The Bank of Ireland issued £3 notes as early as 1826. For a sketch of Irish currency, see History Ireland , 'Using Other People's Money: Farewell to the Irish Pound', issue 1, Spring 2002.
IE MOD/A25/3 One handwritten note with envelope (stamp removed) on notepaper measuring 17.5 cm x 11 cm dated 13 April 1907 addressed to The Sub PM (post master/mistress) Castleisland Co Kerry from P J Mullally, 15 Rathdown Road, Dublin:
Will the sub PM Castleisland kindly dispose of enclosed tickets value 5/- and very much oblige
IE MOD/A25/4 One document measuring 33 cm x 20 cm embossed with the crown Post Office letterhead dated 1906 addressed to Miss McCrohan:
Miss Wrenn may sign the voucher and arrange with Miss O'Sullivan the amount should be claimed tomorrow arhaim [?]. Signed J C [Illeg]
IE MOD/A25/5 One Daily Money Order Docket for Castleisland dated 18 October 1909 measuring 21 cm x 11.5 cm on the reverse of which is written Patrick More [?] Gneeveguilla.
IE MOD/A25/6 One Rural Postman's Letter and Parcel Bill franked 'Killarney May 12 1907', two sided
640 document measuring 22 cm x 22 cm, one side 'Outward Journey' the other 'Inward Journey'.
IE MOD/A25/7 Five page printed document entitled 'Inland Telegrams – Instruction Book'. Item measures 27 cm x 21 cm, issued with the Post office Circular of 12 December 1905. Includes official codes and abbreviations, morse symbols for signs of punctuation and other symbols.
IE MOD/A25/8 One poster, 'Parcel Post to Ecuador & Bolivia' dated 31st January 1905 measuring 33 cm x 20 cm gives notice of postage rates and size and weight restrictions. Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office by W P Griffith & Sons Ltd, Prujean Square, Old Bailey, London, EC.
IE MOD/A25/9 One 'Alphabetical List of Money Order Offices in British Colonies and Foreign Countries' issued with the Post Office Circular of the 29th January 1907. Document, measuring 33 cm x 21 cm, lists offices opened and closed in Australia, Canada and France and in China, lists agencies opened in Manchuria. Most extensive listing is for Canada and includes name of office, county and province, for example Cupar and Earl Grey offices opened in Assimboia West, Saskatchewan.
IE MOD/A25/10 One 'Post Office Circular' dated Friday December 30 1904 No 1641 'Telegrams to and from Ships by Wireless Telegraphy'. Document measures 37 cm x 24 cm and is printed on both sides on the reverse of which is a chart of 'Wireless Telegraph Stations' with other information including code signal, hours of attendance, remarks. Stations listed are Crookhaven, Lizard, Malin Head, Niton, North Foreland, Rosslare.
Accessioned 15 April & 25 May 2016.
641 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A26
Sheila Hannon
642 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A26 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Sheila Hannon CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 6 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A26 consists of digital and hard copy copies of six black and white photographs from the private collection of Sheila Hannon, proprietor of Hannon's Fashions, Castleisland. They were brought into the office by Tomo Burke for cataloguing on 22 April 2016.
The images were taken in Castleisland circa 1942 or earlier.
IE MOD/A26/1 One black and white photograph 1038 x 745 depicts a donkey standing in Main Street outside the Crown Hotel.
IE MOD/A26/2 One black and white photograph 1636 x 1088 taken on the corner junction of Main Street and Church Street, in view of the store of F J Costello. Sign outside reads 'Players Navy Cut'; a small number of people are walking in the vicinity.
IE MOD/A26/3 One black and white photograph 960 x 692 depicts a group of men walking in procession style in the centre of Main Street. Behind them is the store of Francis J Costello.
IE MOD/A26/4 One black and white photograph 1636 x 1061 depicts the military assembled in front of a platform in Main Street outside J Roche General Draper.
IE MOD/A26/5 One black and white photograph 1090 x 798 identified on reverse as follows: 'Step Together Week Nov 1-8 1942'. Depicts military, including a band, assembled in front of a platform in Main Street outside J Roche General Draper. Thousands participated in Step Together Week, a recruitment campaign which began in Mullingar during the Second World War. It was conducted under the auspices of the army and combined services. The Kerryman of 31 October 1942 recorded plans in Castleisland:
The Castleisland National Services appear to be doing very good work in arousing the proper spirit of determined neutrality in their district. Their aim is of course to establish efficient national services, well backed by an earnest popular enthusiasm. At this stage of the emergency it should not be necessary to have to explain to the ordinary man and woman the need that exists for a proper spirit of co-operation and preparedness. In Castleisland they intend to make that spirit keener and more alive. They have drawn up an extensive programme for the coming week, one which is calculated to suit the tastes of all ages and classes. They open on Sunday 1st Nov with a kiddies' party and then during the week they cater for the tastes of picture-goers, card-players and dancers. Amongst the notable items during the week is a concert in which well-known entertainers are to take part. Their jumble sale and auctions on Wednesday will interest people of a more serious turn of
643 mind. This Step-Together Week will close on Sunday 8th Nov with a grand parade of military and combined services followed by a football match between the army and the local forces. Military tactical exercises will take place on the same day. This determined spirit deserves encouragement and we wish them the very best in their endeavours.
IE MOD/A26/6 One black and white photograph 1636 x 1061 depicts military marching in salute past platform in Main Street.
Accessioned 25 April 2016.
644 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A27
Noel Lane
645 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A27 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Noel Lane CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A27 consists of a small number of pages copied from The Schools' Collection in relation to Brosna Schools donated to the collection on CD by Noel Lane of Brosna. 1 The page numbers from Brosna (B) school are 217-221, 273-276 and page 503 from Brosna (C). Subjects include church and road history and a fourteen verse song, The Pensioners' Song collected by Aeneas Leahy from Michael Broderick, Lavalla. It begins:
The pension having reached us – sure it caused our hearts to throb, For fear we would be cut off from our weekly sum five bob, But thank God we all received it and our hearts are now not down, And the name of some of the applicants I'll give you near this town. 2
Student Maureen Leahy records the history of the main road from Abbeyfeale to Castleisland which once passed through Gleann na Srón to Feale View school-house and the bridge there:
This bridge was swept away by the great flood which occurred the first day the Bishop came to bless Mountcollins Church. The road then passed up to Teurén locaid, Meenleitrim and Glean Seatruim to Castleisland.
There are over three hundred pages of local history contained in The Schools Collection for Brosna schools all of which currently await transcription. Material for Brosna (B) school, dating October 1936 to December 1938, runs to 167 pages (pp204-371) and Brosna (C) school, dating November 1937 to December 1938, 137 pages (pp400-537). A multitude of subjects is covered including local lore and customs such as lime burning, candle making, spinning and thatching, old houses and schools, etc.
The town name of Brosna, we learn from student Maureen Downey, means 'Faggots – so called because a great many sticks are to be found in the neighbourhood'. The same student also provided a rhyme:
God made Brosna He made it in the night He made it in a hurry And forgot to make it right. He put the post-office in the middle And the smith's at the top He was going to put fine weather And then he forgot. 3
Accessioned 20 May 2016.
646 ______1 Material submitted to archive by Tomo Burke via Johnny Roche. The images on the CD are large and not copied to hard drive (a hard copy has been made). Smaller digital copies have been obtained from http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes.
2 The song is dated 1909, in which year (January) the old age pension scheme came into effect: 'The old age pensions scheme ... has put an end to one of the commonest and saddest of all tragedies, a destitute old age ... This little pittance was one of the most humane laws ever enacted in a legislative assembly ... 'Tis only the good die young,/Which means the good are never old,/For though they lived a hundred years,/They pass like children from the fold' ( Kerryman , 15 August 1936).
3 The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0449, Page 476.
647 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A28
Timothy Murphy
648 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A28 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Timothy Murphy CREATION DATES c2015-2016 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 3 Items LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A28 consists of three documents:
(1) Local Business Directory - 1990 An alphabetical list of businesses in Castleisland (Accommodation - Wool Shops), pages 55-60.
(2) Trade Directories - 1846, 1886, 1904 'Appendix III, Some Notable People' from unreferenced publication, pages 63-69. Contains typed list of Castleisland businesses extracted from above directories.
(3) Notes on Castleisland's wide Main Street,
The above documents were donated to the collection by archivist, historian and photographer, Timothy Murphy of Castleisland.
They were received into the collection via committee members Colm Kirwan and Johnnie Roche/Colm Kirwan and John Reidy by email 10 & 28 November 2016. Hard copies have also been made.
Accessioned 28 November 2016.
649 MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION
REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A29
Richard Prendergast
650 REFERENCE CODE IE MOD/A29 TITLE MICHAEL O'DONOHOE COLLECTION: Richard Prendergast CREATION DATES 2017 EXTENT AND MEDIUM 1 Folder Containing 1 Item LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION Series
SCOPE AND CONTENT
IE MOD/A29 consists of one CD as follows:
Songs from the Past by Richard Prendergast, purchased for the collection for its relevance to Castleisland in the song, ‘John Twiss from Castleisland’. Richard, a native of Keel, Castlemaine, was inspired to produce the CD by a young boy named Adam Dunphy of Glencar. Richard met Adam, who has Down Syndrome, in the course of his job driving the local school bus. “Adam would be at the door with his mum Mairead,” explained Richard, “waiting while his sisters Amy and Orla boarded the bus. One morning I gave him the thumbs up sign and he did the same back to me, and after that, he was first at the door every morning waiting to greet me.”
This gentle act of friendship brought about a desire in Richard to ‘do something’ to support those with Down Syndrome. Richard, an All Ireland finalist in Sean-nós singing (1974), mulled over his options and decided to utilise his musical ability in compiling a CD – his first – from his repertoire of traditional ‘songs from the past’.
Richard, who won first place in the (then) ballad category of the first Writers’ Week forty years ago with his rendition of John Gallivan’s The Roving Fiddler Man, a song about Sliabh Luachra fiddler Patrick O’Keeffe, contacted Pat Donegan at Pats Tracks Studio and arranged a meeting to discuss his idea. Less than eight hours later, the CD was recorded.
The CD has 12 tracks (11 songs, one recitation)
Farewell to Dublin Stick to the Cratur John Twiss from Castleisland The Meet was at Matthews The Lakes of Pontchartrain The High Heeled Shoes The Hours were Small Ballyshannon Lane The Hide and Go Seek The Rocks of Bawn The Tailor Bán From Inch to Castlemaine (written by Moss Prendergast, Richard’s late uncle)
The album, produced by musician and photographer, Pat Donegan, and published in September 2017, has an appropriate image of Glencar on the cover, photographed by Philip Tindall of EasyDesign.
651 The CD was purchased for the collection at its retail price of €10, all proceeds to Down Syndrome Kerry.
Added to Accessions 20 October 2017.
652